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From  the  folklore  collection  formal 
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HARVARD  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 


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B0ITBD  BT 

JOHN  W.  HALES,  M.A. 
FRKDKRKK  J.  FURNIVALL,  M.A. 

f'W  rbi^irr  bail.  « AMRRin**!. 


.•.,*-!      ■!    Ik  r    •  H:Mi.  ♦»r  Uak«iU>  r*iv..  I'.S.  .  W.  CIIAITELL.  li^f..  Iir.  4c. 


Vol.  li. 


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A   1 


PREFACE 


TO 


THE   SECOND   VOLUME, 


As  the  first  volume  was  specially  that  of  Arthur  and  Gawaiue, 
of  Bobin  Hood  and  his  great  compeer,  now  almost  forgotten, 
*  Randolph,  Erl  of  Chestre,'  so  this  second  volume  is  specially 
that  of  Sir  Grey,  who  did  such  naighty  deeds  for  England,  and 
the  pathos  of  whose  death  in  his  hermit's  cell  near  Warwick 
has  never  yet  been  worthily  sung. 

But  the  Arthur  and  Gawaine  stories  are  here  continued  in 
The  Grene  Knight^  the  Boy  and  Mantle,  and  Libius  Disconius ; 
and  we  have  besides,  in  the  present  volume,  versions  of  some  of 
the  best  of  our  English  ballads,  Chevy  Chase,  Childe  Waters, 
Bell  my  Wiffe,  Bessie  off  Bednall,  &c.  Of  one  of  the  best  of 
them.  King  Estmet^e,  Percy's  ruthless  hands  (p.  200,  note)  have 
prevented  us  giving  the  MS.  version  of  the  folio.  We  have  been 
unable  to  find  any  other  MS.  or  printed  copy  of  this  ballad,  and 
have  therefore  been  obliged  to  put  side  by  side  in  an  appendix 
Percy's  two  printed  versions  of  it,  with  all  their  dififerences  from 
each  other  marked  in  italics,  so  that  readers  may  judge  for  them- 
selves as  to  his  probable  amount  of  alteration  in  the  other  parts. 

The  folio  version  of  Bell  my  Wiffe — a  ballad  to  which  Shak- 
spere's  quotation  of  it  in  Othello  has  secured  immortality — is 
believed  to  be  the  earliest  known ;  and  as  it  just  filled  a  page 


PREFACE   TO   THE   SECOND   TOLUME. 

in  the  MS.  it  was  chosen  for  photolithographing,  and  an  im- 
pression of  it  will  be  given  with  Vol.  III.  for  Vol.  I. 

John  de  Reeue  is  (among  other  pieces)  here  printed  for  the 
first  time,  and  if  it  can  be  taken  in  any  degree  as  a  picture  of 
the  bondman's  condition  at  the  time  it  represents,  or  even  the 
time  it  was  written,  it  is  of  considerable  historical  value.  At 
any  rate,  it  shows  us  a  merry  scene  of  early  English  life. 
Conscience's  tale  is  of  a  darker  tint,  but  is  valuable  for  its 
sketch  of  the  corruptions  of  its  times.  The  other  historical 
ballads  treat  of  fights  and  plots  abroad  and  at  home — of 
Agincourt,  Buckingham's  Fall,  the  Siege  of  Cadiz,  Durham 
Field,  Northumberland  besieged  by  Douglas,  &c.  &c., — but 
none  of  them  are  of  more  than  average  merit. 

Mr.  Hales  has  written  all  the  Introductions,  except  those  to 
Cales  Voyage  (for  which  the  Editors  are  indebted  to  Mr.  John 
Bruce,  the  Director  of  the  Camden  Society),  to  Earle  Bodwell 
(which  is  reprinted  from  the  first  edition  of  Bishop  Percy's 
Reliques),  to  Boy  and  Mantle  (which  is  reprinted  from  Pro- 
fessor Child's  Ballads),  and  the  following  by  Mr.  Furnivall : 
ComCy  Come ;  Conscience ;  Agincourte  Battell ;  and  LUnus  Dis- 
conius.  Mr.  Hales  has  also  written  the  Introductory  Essay  on 
The  Eevival  of  Ballad  Poetry  in  the  Eighteenth  Century. 

For  the  text  Mr.  Furnivall  is,  as  before,  mainly  responsible, 
and  has  to  thank  Mr.  W.  A.  Dalziel  for  his  help  in  reading  the 
copy  and  proof  with  the  MS.  The  contractions  of  the  MS.  are 
printed  in  italics  in  the  text. 

To  the  Eevs.  Alexander  Dyce,  W.  W.  Skeat,  J.  Eoberts,  and 
Archdeacon  Hale;  to  Messrs.  Chappell,  Bruce,  T.  Wright, 
Planch^,  and  Jones,  the  Editors  tender  their  thanks  for  help 
in  divers  ways. 

February  4,  1868. 


r   . 

.  I 


4 


'I 
■  i 


Jiifi^op  iPetcK's  folio  iB^. 


-roi.  »• 


IV 


CONTENTS  OF  THE   SECOND   VOLUME. 


see  Append 


u,p 


CONSCIENCE 
DURHAM    FEILDE 

GUY  AND  PHILLIS  (for  the  beginningy 

JOHN  A   SIDE 

BISINQE   IN  THE   NORTHE     . 

NORTHUMBERLAND   BBTRATD   BT   DOWOLAS 

GUYE   OF   GISBORNE     . 

HEREFFORD  AND  NORFOLKE 

LADTES   FALL      . 

BUCKINGAM  BETRATD   BY   BANISTER 

EARLE    BODWELL 

BISHOPPE   AND   BROWNE 

CHILDE  WATERS 

BESSIE   OFF  BEDNALL 

HUGH   SPENCER 

KINGE  ADLER     . 

BOY   AND  MANTLE 

WHITE  ROSE  AND  RED 

BELL   MY    WIFFE 

I  LIVE  WHERE   I   LOVE 

YOUNGE   ANDREW 

A  JIQGE     .... 

EGLAMORE 

THE   EMPEROUR  AND  THE   CHILDE 

SITTINGS   LATE  . 

LI6IUS   DISCONIUS 

CHILDE   MAURICE 

PHILLIS  HOE      . 

GUY  AND  COLEBRANDE 

JOHN   DE   REEVE 

APPENDIX 

TWO  AGINCOURT   BALLADS 

KING  ESTMERE  (two  vsrsions,  firom  the  let  and 

The  Reliqnes) 

GUY  AND  PHILLIS  (the  first  eleven  stanzas  of) 


608) 


4Ah 


editions 


PAGE 

.      174 
190 
201 
203 
210 
217 
.      227 
.      238 
.      24$ 
.      253 
.      260 
.      265 
.      269 
279 
.      290 
296 
.      301 
.      312 
.      320 
.      325 
.      327 
.      334 
.      338 
.      390 
.      400 
404 
.      500 
.      507 
.      509 
.      559 
.      595 
.      595 

Of 

•.      600 

.      608 


CORRIGENDA. 

p.  9, 1.  9$, /or  armour  read  armor. 
p.  16»  L  %n,/or  and  read  &. 
p.  8S,  L  9,  for  [and]  read  &. 
p.  S8,  1.  6, /or  with  read  with. 

1.  22f/or  between  read  betweene. 
p.  89,  1.  77 1  for  thein  read  them. 
p.  41, 1.  9, /or  up  read  vp. 
p.  46,  L  7, /or  bells  read  bell. 
p.  60,  note  8, /or  theye  redu^  they. 
p.  66, 1. 164 ;  p.  66, 1.  908,  916  ;for  and  read  &. 
p.  79,  note  ' :  the  r  has  fallen  out  of  the  A.-8ax.  Oram, 
p.  77,  note,  ooL  1, 1.  9 ;  for  missed.   As  read  missed,  as. 
p.  140,  L  109,  add  witt  at  the  end  of  the  line. 

note  ^tfor  Strowt  yn  read  Strowtyn. 
p.  159,  L  7,/or  1669  read  1659. 
p.  164,  note  ^^for  terme  read  tenne. 
p.  964,  L  19, /or  Robert  read  Richard, 
p.  879,  notes,  col.  9,  for  "  1867  "  read  "  Baheee  Book,  &o.  1868." 

N.B.  The  reading  of  the  vol.  with  the  MS.  was  stopt  at  p.  74  by  the  return  of  the 
MS,  to  its  owners. 


THE  REVIVAL  OF  BALLAD  POETRY  IN  THE 

EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


The  last  century  in  England  was  in  more  respects  than  one  a 
valley  of  dry  bones.  About  the  middle  of  it,  "  they  were  very 
many,*'  and  "they  were  very  dry."  Shortly  afterwards,  "behold,  a 
noise,'*  and  the  bones  began  to  come  together.  These  signs  of  life 
were  followed  by  a  growing  animation.  From  the  four  quarters 
came  the  wind,  and  breathed  on  the  quickening  mass.  From 
the  north  it  came  in  its  strength  ;  from  the  east  and  the  west  it 
blew  vigorously ;  from  the  south  it  rushed  with  a  wild  furious 
sweeping  blast  that  changed  the  face  of  the  valley.  So  at  last 
the  century  revived — its  dull  lack-lustre  eyes  brightened — ^its 
stagnant  pulse  leapt — it  lived. 

I  do  not  now  propose  to  attempt  a  full  description  of  this 
mighty  revival.  But  I  propose  confining  myself  to  one  par- 
ticular  feature  of  it — the  appreciation  of  our  older  literature, 
and  especially  of  our  ballad  poetry.  The  century  that  had  long 
been  fully  satisfied  with  its  own  productions,  at  last  recognised 
that  the  English  literature  of  ages  that  had  preceded  it  was 
not  wholly  barbarous.  The  century  that  had  given  up  itself  to 
rules,  and  reduced  the  art  of  poetry  to  a  mechanical  trick,  at 
last  acknowledged  graces  beyond  the  reach  of  its  art.  At  last 
it  was  brought  to  see  that  there  were  more  things  in  heaven 
and  earth  than  were  dreamt  of  in  its  philosophy. 

It  discovered  that  there  were  innumerable  beauties  around  it 
to  which  it  had  long  been  blind.     It  left  its  gardens  and  its 

VOL.  II.  a 


VJ  TEC  SETITiX  (V  MUIAM 

^As&jfjnXfz  mazufHilatiaDf  of  natore  to  see  Xatore  heiadt     It 
gar^  r/T«r  refining  tLe  HIj  and  gildmg  the  rose  to  look  at  the 
fl<>v<Ti»  ixi  tLeir  ciiDpIe  beamr.     It  beeune  conscioiis  of  the 
erqinrnVb  beaoties  and  glories  of  SwrTjapriaiid,  of  the  English 
lakec,  of  Walee.     New  worlds  of  splendofzr,  and  of  noble  enjoy- 
ment, dawned  apr>n  it.     Not  greater  didooTmes  were  made  by 
Columbas  and  hifi  followeiB  four  oentnries  befooe  than  were 
tli^n  made.    The  age,  with  all  it£  8df<omplai«mce,  had  been 
living  in  a  priaon*     The  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  it  came 
fr^rth   to  feel  and  enjoy  the  fresh  breezes  and  the  gracious 
sunshine.     A  huger,  more  dismal,  more  cramping  Bastile  than 
that  of  Paris  fell  along  with  it.    The  age  saw  at  the  same  time 
that,  liesides  the  beauties  of  nature,  there  were  beauties  that 
the  art  of  former  dap  had  bequeathed  it.     It  began  to  discern 
the  subtle  loveb'ness  of  old  cathedral  churches  that  studded  the 
country.     It  had  long  eyed  them  with  much  disfevour.    It  had 
sadly  disBgured  them  with  adornments  of  its  own  demising,  and 
according  with   its  own  notions.     It  had    deplored  them  as 
monstrous  relics  of  a  profound  barbarism.     But  at  last  the 
scales  fell  from  its  eyes,  and  it  saw  that  these  ''tabernacles 
of  the  Lord  of  Hosts'*  were   "amiable.**     It  awoke  to  their 
supreme,  lavish,   refined   beautifulness.      So  with   respect  to 
other  branches  of  Gothic  art,  other  fruits  of  the  old  Romantic 
times,  they  came  to  a  better  appreciation  of  them.     Poets  and 
f>oems  that  had  for  many  a  day  been  relegated  to  n^lect  and 
oblivion,  were   more   frankly  and  fairly  valued.     Voices  that 
had  long  been  silenced  or  ignored   began  to   find   a  hearing 
and  a  heeding  audience.     As  Greek  literature  was  revived  in 
the  fifteenth,  so  was  Bomantic  in  the  eighteenth. 

A  fair  criterion  of  the  progress  of  the  century  in  the  re- 
cognition of  the  Romantic  age  is  its  appreciation  of  Chaucer. 
The  most  important  event  of  the  century  regarding  him  is  the 
appearance  of  Tyrwhitt's  edition  of  him  in  1775.     Then  at  last 


n  m  naoTEBnn  ckktckt. 


vif 


ipl  WM  tmde  to  viodjcate  bU  bme  from  tbe  impuUtion 
Msa  i  to  Aaw  that  he,  uo  Ii>ss  than  tbe  eighteentb- 
pocta,  had  ■OOI4  aento  of  melody,  some  talent  fur 
mc  power  of  Inngiia^.  Sp  enser  was  more 
cnotinoonsly  aoc^l«<L  The  age  Hympatbised  witb 
part  of  Itis  genius,  and  found  pleasure  in  iuii- 
Bat,  aa  I  bsvn  Mttd,  I  propose  now  considering 
oar  ballad  potrtrj  ;  and  to  it  I  turn. 
aigtial  ereot  regarding  it  is  tbe  pnblication  of 
&Uf«M0  of  Aiurieat  EnglUh  Poetrif  in  1765.  X^t  un 
r  the  oeotury  waa  prepared,  or  bad  been  preparing,  for 
Bona  publitattnn, 
■rEngtiah  ballada, tbongh  higbly  popular  in  tlu^  Elizabethan 
aJnsunienUe  aIIun»D«  to  tb'iin  in  Sbukespe^re  and  the 
atui  in  tite  gi-uend  lil<.*raturi?  of  tbe  time,  show, 
collected  into  any  volume,  save  in  Garlttmla, 
1723.  Tboy  «aodcr«d  up  and  down  tbe  country 
■heeptkUu  or  goatskiiiH  to  protect  tbfm.  Tbey 
e  tbe  birds  of  tbe  air,  ami  «uug  songn  dear  to  tbo 
immon  people — aiioga  wIiom?  power  wa«  itomctimcs 
tbe  lii|{ber  clanea,  but  not  m>  thoronglily  appreciatpd 
tbem  til  exrrt  thenwelvtat  for  tbvir  jin;«ervntion. 
«•  looked  down  upon  aa  tbinga  Ibnt  wero  voiy  i^ood  in 
iper  place,  bat  irbiob  muMt  not  \k  admitted  into  higber 
Tbry  wvre  admired  in  a  oondevoending  manner.  Tbey 
d>  beltpr  than  miald  I>c  expected.  But  no  one  (bou},'bt 
aa  pipular  lyrin  of  gmat  intrintcic  value.  No  ouc  put 
band  t<i  ave  Dhmii  from  pertabJog.  Tbe  ciutoin  nf 
the  walk  I'f  hoQM»  wifli  them  tbai  happily  previiilnl 
A»  a»T«Btaeiith  cmtury  did  aumeihiofi  for  their  preaervatJon. 
tJtey  had  a  better  cfaaoee  of  keeping  a  place  In 
and  meeting  aume  <[ay  appreciative  eye*. 
Um  Old  nf  the  «Id  eeotury  were  inadi?  uno  <>r  two 


Viil  niE   BZTTTAL  OF   KVIT.\0   POETRY 

collections  of  the  broad  sheets  containing  them.  The  black- 
letter  literature  of  the  people  was  collected  rather  for  its 
curiousness  than  its  power  or  beauty,  by  antiquaries  rather 
than  by  poets  or  enjoyers  of  poetry.  \Miatever  their  motives, 
let  us  praise  Wood  and  Harley,  Selden '  and  Pepys,  Rawlinson, 
Douce,  and  Bagford,  for  their  services  in  gathering  together 
and  protecting  the  frail  outcasts  from  destruction.  They  were 
as  great  benefactors  of  the  old  ballads  as  Captain  Coram  was  of 
foundlings.     Be  their  names  glorified  I 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  powerful  mind  of  Drydai 
justly  appreciated  the  strength  of  our  old  literature,  although 
he  so  far  bows  before  the  spirit  of  his  age  as  to  deface  it  for 
the  reception  of  that  age.  Even  when  he  revised  and  spoiled 
Chaucer's  works,  he  felt  the  power  of  theuL  But  he  resigned 
his  own  judgment  to  that  of  his  contemporaries.  This  Sam- 
son in  his  captivity  consented  to  make  merry  and  carouse 
with  bis  captors — to  translate  the  songs  he  loved  into  the 
Philistine  dialect.  He  had  a  fine  appreciation  of  the  old 
ballads.  "I  have  heard,"  says  a  Spectator,  "that  the  late 
lx>rd  Dorset,  who  had  the  greatest  wit  tempered  with  the 
greatest  candour,  and  was  one  of  the  finest  critics  as  well  as 
the  best  poets  of  his  age,  had  a  numerous  collection  of  old 
English  ballads,  and  took  a  particular  pleasure  in  the  reading 
of  them.  I  can  affirm  the  same  of  Mr.  Dryden,  and  know 
several  of  the  most  refined  writers  of  our  present  age  who  are 
of  the  same  humour."  He  is,  I  think,  the  first  collector  of 
poems  who  conceded  to  popular  ballads  their  due  place, — ^who 
admitted  them  into  the  society  of  other  poems — poems  by  the 
most  Eminent  Hands, — w^ho  perceived  their  excellence,  and 
welcomed  them  accordingly.  To  other  collectors  of  that  date 
it  was  as  disgraceful  to  a  poem  as  to  a  man  to  have  no  father, 

»  Tradition  says  tliat  Pepys  *•  borrowed  "  a  part  of  his  Collection  from  Seldon, 
and  forgot  to  return  it. — W.  C. 


IN   THE    EIGPITEENTH   CENTURY.  ix 

or  to  be  suspected  of  a  common  origin.  Dryden  rose  above 
this  prejudice.  He  showed  one  or  two  ballads  the  same  hospi- 
tality as  he  extended  to  the  poetasters  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge, 
whose  name  was  Legion  at  this  time.  In  the  Miscellany  Poems, 
edited  by  him,  of  which  the  first  volume  appeared  in  1684,  the 
last  in  1708,  eight  years  after  his  death,  are  to  be  found  "  Little 
Musgrave  and  the  Lady  Bernard,"  certainly  one  of  the  most 
vigorous  ballads  in  oiu:  language ;  "  Chevy  Chase, "  with  a 
rhyming  Latin  translation  ;  "  Johnnie  Armstrong,"  "  Gilderoy," 
"  The  Miller  and  the  King's  Daughters."  But  the  evil  that  men 
do  lives  after  them.  Dryden,  in  his  *'  Knight's  Tale  "  and  other 
works,  had  set  the  fashion  of  imitating  and  modernising  our  old 
poems.  That  fashion  survived  him.  For  more  than  half  a 
century  after  his  death,  with  the  exception  of  the  insertion  of 
two  or  three  in  Playford's  *  Wit  and  Mirth,  or  Pills  to  purge 
Melancholy,  and  of  the  Collection  of  Old  Ballads  above  referred 
to,  we  have  produced  in  England  imitations  or  adaptations  of 
liallads — no  faithful  reprint  of  the  genuine  thing.  The  wine 
that  the  age  had  given  it  to  drink  was  a  miserable  dilution,  or 
only  coloured  water.  Conspicuous  amongst  these  imitators  or 
adapters  were  Parnell,  Prior,  and  Tickell.  But  there  were  two 
men  in  Queen  Anne's  time  who  had  a  genuine  relish  for  old 
ballads,  and  who  said  a  good  word  for  them.  These  were 
Addison  and  Rowe.  Addison's  taste  for  tbera  had  been  awakened 
during  his  travels  on  the  Continent.  *'Wlien  I  travelled,"  he 
writes,  "  I  took  a  particular  delight  in  hearing  the  songs  and 
fables  that  are  come  from  father  to  son,  and  are  most  in  vogue 
among  the  common  people  of  the  countries  through  which  I 
passed  ;  for  it  is  impossible  that  anything  should  be  universally 
tasted  and  approved  by  a  multitude,  though  they  are  only  the 
rabble  of  a  nation,  which  hath  not  in  it  some  peculiar  aptness 

'  This  CoUection,  though  generally  (1719),  in  six  volumes.  Five  were 
called  D'Urfey  s,  was  Henry  Playford's.  printod  in  1714  ;  the  first  volume  in 
D'Urfey   edited    only   the    last    edition       1699.— W.  C. 


t.\ 


THK  KKTITAL  OT  ULLAD  FORKT 


ft 


to  pleftse  and  gnti^r  the  miiid  of  man.^  He  pres,  as  is  well 
known,  two  numbeis  of  the  Spectator  to  a  consideration  of 
ChevT  Chaser  one  to  that  of  the  «  Children  in  the  Wood.** 
The  old  song  of  *  Chevy  Chase,^ "  he  writes,  **  is  the  favoorite 
ballad  of  the  common  people  of  England,  and  Ben  Jonson  used 
to  say  he  had  rather  hare  been  the  aothor  of  it  than  of  all  his 
works.**  Then  he  quotes  Sir  ndlip  Sidnej^s  fiunous  words ;  and 
then  add&y  "  For  my  own  part  I  am  so  professed  an  admirer  of 
this  antiquated  song  that  I  shall  gire  my  reader  a  critick  upon 
it,  without  any  further  apology  for  so  doing."  And  he  proceeds 
to  investigate  the  poem  according  to  the  critical  rules  of  his 
time.  He  compares  it  with  other  heroic  poems,  and  illustrates 
it  from  Virgil  and  Horace.  He  read  the  old  ballad  in  the  light 
of  his  age — viewed  and  reviewed  it  in  a  somewhat  narrow  spirit. 
But  he  did  read  it — he  did  look  at  it.  In  spite  of  the  confining 
criticism  and  hypercriticism  of  the  day,  he  did  feel  and  recognise 
its  power.  *'  Thus  we  see,**  his  ^rani^i  concludes,  **  how  the 
thoughts  of  this  poem,  which  naturally  arise  from  the  subject, 
are  al¥rays  simple,  and  sometimes  exquisitely  noble ;  that  the 
language  is  often  very  sounding,  and  that  the  whole  is  written 
with  a  true  poetical  spirit"'  In  another  paper  he  calls  attention 
to  and  expresses  the  "  most  exquisite  pleasure  "  he  had  received 
from  "The  Two  Children  in  the  Wood,"  which  he  had  en- 
countered pasted  upon  the  wall  of  some  house  in  the  country. 
He  describes  it  as  "  one  of  the  darling  songs  of  the  common 
people,"  and  as  having  been  "  the  delight  of  most  Englishmen 
in  some  part  of  their  age  ; "  and  then  he  discusses  it  after  his 
manner.  "  The  tale  of  it  is  a  pretty  tragical  story,  and  pleases 
for  no  other  reason  but  because  it  is  a  copy  of  nature.  There 
is  even  a  despicable  simplicity  in  the  verse ;  and  yet  because  the 
sentiments  appear  genuine  and  unaffected,  they  are  able  to 
move  the  mind  of  the  most  polite  reader  with  inward  meltings 
of  humanity  and  compassion."     But  he  could  not  bring  his 


him.  They  would  not  hear, 
ebumtd  be  oever  to  wlaely.  Hw  "  Chevy  Cba«e  "  papers  were 
rMiictU«d  asd  ftuv&ed  by  PcaniH  uid  Wagstaff  and  kindred 
•fwils.  To  thco  periuip*  he  idludcs  in  the  concludiog  words 
«f  Up  Dotioo  of  the  other  IwlUd  be  revicvs :  "  As  for  the  little 
tmfBmttd  wita  of  tbo  »ge,''  he  writee,  "  who  can  only  show  tbeir 
fiadtng  fiiult,  tb«y  cannot  be  Ruppoeed  to  admire 
tiou  which  have  nothing  to  recomtnend  them  but 
of  nfttan,  when  tbey  do  not  know  how  to  relisb 
tffca  t>HMC!  compotitiona  that,  with  all  the  beauties  of  nature, 
hare  b1m>  Qui  additional  adnntogiM  of  art,"  He  fought  a  losing 
Ittlt.  What  appRctatvon  of  tbo  old  things  there  was  at  the 
of  ibe  mntTiry  wiu  rapidly  decaying.  An  age  of 
vtiSciality,  and  stndipd  affectation,  waa  dawning. 
I  bar*  mmitiaaBd  Rowo  aa  sharing  Addison's  appreciation 
oflfcc  old  Mlatfa.  He  takea  for  one  of  bis  plays  a  subject  that 
«M  lbs  tbesM  of  a  widely  popular  ballad,  and  in  introducing 
Ui  bifedy,  d«precatM  the  adrene  prtjudiceB  of  his  audience, 
aad  ((naki  boldly  in  &Tour  of  tbc  eldor  literature,  and  against 
tfc»  vmldMd  afiactationa  of  hie  time.  The  Prologue  to  bis 
"Jwaa Bben,"  finrt  acted  in  1713,  opens  thus: 

Ti  atghl.  If  jwtowbwm^tyqwgooJolJ  tum. 

A  td*  wkMi.  told  In^  tinea  la  bamelj  wiw, 
Salh  Mw  hil*d  of  mrltitK  i^ds  ajrn. 
Ir  imfim  tJw  taplw  ikai* 


XU  THE   KKTITAL  OF  BJOXAD  POETST 

In  wnA  an  age  imBortal  Snkcepear  vroie. 
Bt  do  qaaiiit  raks  nor  ham{»csng  critics  taagfat. 
With  roQ^  Bujcflde  force  tber  Borvd  the  heart. 
And  ftrength  and  natiire  m»demmgois  for  ail. 
Oar  humble  aothor  doet  his  neps  parsoe ; 
He  ovBS  he  had  thewghtr  bard  isTiev; 
And  in  these  secDes  has  made  it  mot^  his  care 
To  rooae  the  paaskms  than  to  charm  the 


But  this  advocacT,  too,  of  a  better  taste  was  doomed  to  faiL 
Bowe,  as  Addison,  spoke  in  Tain.  The  literary  dominion  of 
France  was  growing  more  and  more  supreme.  Protests  in 
behalf  of  our  old  masters  were  urged  fruitlessly.  The  charms 
of  our  ballad  poetry  were  disr^;arded,  were  despised. 

There  were,  however,  others  besides  Addison  and  Rowe  who 
had  some  slight  sense  of  those  charms,  as  for  instance  those 
whom  we  have  named — Pamell,  Tickell,  Prior.     Pameirs  ac- 
quaintance with  our  older  literature  is  shown  in  his  *^  Fairy  Tale 
in  the  Ancient  English  Style.''     It  is  but  a  feeble  piece,  written 
in  a  favourite  Romance  metre — the  metre  of  Chaucer's  **  Tale  of 
Sir  Topas  " — and  decorated  with  occasional  bits  of  bad  grammar 
to  give  it  an  antique  look.     Tickell's  friendship  with  Addison 
could  not  but  have  conduced  to  some  familiarity  on  his  part 
with  the  old  ballads.     He  seems  to  have  been  inspired  by  them 
in  no  ordinary  degree.     Apropos  of  his  "  Lucy  and  Colin,"  Gold- 
smith remarks :  "  Through  all  Tickell's  works  there  is  a  strain 
of  ballad-thinking,  if  I  may  so  express  it ;  and  in  this  professed 
ballad  he  seems  to  have  surpassed  himself.     It  is  perhaps  the 
best  in  our  language  in  this  way."   The  writer  of  it  has  evidently 
drunk  from  the  old  wells.     The  story  is  simple.     It  is  told  in  a 
queer  style — a  sort  of  sti-ange  compromise  between  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  old  ballad  language  and  the  superfine  verbiage 
that  was  rising  into  esteem  in  Tickell's  own  day.     Lucy,  the 
reader  may  remember,  is  deserted  by  her  lover  for  a  richer 
bride.     She  cannot  survive  this  cruelty.     She  says,  [to  quote 
well-known  lines, 


IN   THE   EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY.  xiii 

I  hear  a  Toice  you  cannot  hear, 

Which  says  I  must  not  stay. 
I  see  a  hand  you  cannot  see, 

Which  beckons  me  away. 

She  is  buried  on  the  day  of  her  felse  lover's  marriage.  The 
funeral  cort^e  encounters  the  hymeneal.  The  bridegroom's 
old  passion^  too  late^  revives. 

Confusion,  shame,  remorse,  despair 

At  once  his  bosom  swell ; 
The  damps  of  death  bedew  his  brow ; 

He  shook,  he  groaned,  he  fell. 

There  is  not  the  true  note  here,  but  there  is  a  distant  echo  of 
it.  In  the  handsome  folio  volume  of  poems  published  by 
Matthew  Prior  in  1718  was  printed  the  "Not-Browne  Maide," 
not  for  its  own  sake,  but  for  the  sake  of  a  piece  called  **  Henry 
and  Emma,"  an  extremely  loose  paraphrase  of  it,  that  the 
reader  might  see  how  magic  was  Mr.  Prior's  touch,  who  could 
transmute  so  rude  an  effort  into  a  work  so  finely  polished. 
However,  Prior  deserves  some  credit  for  having  brought  the 
old  poem  forward  at  all.  His  "  Henry  and  Emma  "  won  great 
applause.  What  a  strange,  instructive,  significant  fact,  that 
when  it  and  its  original  were  placed  before  them,  men  should 
deliberately  choose  it !  A  morbid  taste  was  prevailing  with  a 
vengeance.  No  plea  that  the  language  was  obscure  can  be 
advanced  in  this  case,  as  for  Dryden's  and  Pope's  versions  of 
the  Canterbuiv/  Tales.     There  is  no  obscurity  in  these  words  : 

0  Lorde,  what  is 
This  worldis  blisse, 

That  chaungeth  as  the  mone  ! 

The  somers  day 

In  lusty  may 

Is  derked  before  the  none. 

1  hear  you  say 
Farewel !     Nay,  nay, 
We  departe  not  soo  sono ; 
Why  say  ye  so  ? 
Whedor  wyle  ye  goo  ? 


THE  REVIVAL  OF  BALLAD  POETRY  IN  THE 

EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


Tit  btft  century  in  Eoglaod  was  in  more  respects  than  one  a 
t^llrT  of  dry  liones.  About  the  middle  of  it,  **  they  were  very 
UM&T,"  and  **tbey  were  very  dry.'*  Shortly  afterwards,  **  behold,  a 
b'i'iMr,^  and  the  boue«  began  to  come  together.  These  signs  of  life 
werr  followed  by  a  growing  animation.  From  the  four  quarters 
eunr  the  wind,  and  breathed  on  the  quickening  mass.  From 
tbr  north  it  came  in  ita  strength  ;  from  the  east  and  the  west  it 
Hem  vigonnisly ;  from  the  south  it  rushed  with  a  wild  furious 
fwrrping  blant  that  changed  the  fiice  of  the  valley.  So  at  last 
thr  ci-ntury  revived — its  dull  lack-lustre  eyes  brightened — its 
•tAjnaijt  pul»4'  Irapt—it  lived. 

I  •?••  rj<»t  n  w  i»ro|Hw*  to  attempt  a  full  description  of  this 
•-.jJ.Tv  r»viv;il.  Hilt  I  pr«»|>os«.*  confining  mvKelf  to  one  par- 
*i  \'.XT  fr^turr  of  it  -  thf  appreciation  of  our  <»l(ier  literature, 
k:>l  .-•j^.-nally  of  <iur  KMhul  jKH'try.  The  century  that  had  long 
?^*.  :  .!!y  <ifi*tlfd  with  its  own  ppniuctions,  at  last  recognised 
••-*?  •.:••  Kn;c^i'h  litiralure  of  ag»»s  that  had  preceded  it  was 
L  '  n't,  '\\\  kifkirouii.  The  ct-nttiry  that  had  given  up  itself  to 
r*;.. *,  aijd  r»"iti<t-,i  the  art  of  poetry  to  a  mechanical  trick,  at 
.*►•  ^  kn-'uNd^'*-*!  grar«-j4  beyond  the  rt*ach  of  its  art.  At  last 
.•  »^  ^f'»ujht  to  94^*  that  th«Te  were  more  things  in  heaven 
11-1  ••-ir'h  than  wt'Tr  drKirnt  of  in  its  philosophy. 

!•  i.-.»\t-r*Hi  that  there  wen-  innumerable  lK*auties  around  it 
•    Muuh  It   \i»t\  long  U-tn  blind.     It   left   its  gardens  and  its 

>    :      I  a 


Xvi  THE   RETIVAL   OF  BAXLAD   POETBY 

having  "  observed  that  Readers  of  the  best  and  most  exquisite 
Discernment  frequently  complain  of  our  modem  Writings  as 
filled  with  affected  Delicacies  and  studied  Refinements^  which 
they  would  gladly  exchange  for  that  natural  strength  of  thought 
and  simplicity  of  stile  our  Forefathers  practised,"  published  his 
"  Ever-Green,  being  a  collection  of  Scots  Poems  wrote  by  the 
Ingenious  before  1600,"  and  in  the  same  year  "The  Tea-Table 
Miscellany,  or  a  Collection  of  Scots  Sangs,  in  three  volumes." 
All  three  collections  seem  to  have  enjoyed  a  fair  success.  Who 
was  the  author  of  the  English  one  is  not  known.*  It  is  called 
"  A  collection  of  Old  Ballads  corrected  from  the  best  and  most 
ancient  copies  extant,  with  Introductions,  Historical,  Critical, 
or  Humorous,  illustrated  with  copper  plates."  The  editor  adopts 
an  apologetic  motto  for  his  book — some  of  the  above-quoted 
words  of  Rowe.  He  writes,  too,  in  an  apologetic  vein.  "  There 
are  many,"  he  says, "  who  perhaps  will  think  it  ridiculous  enough 
to  enter  seriously  into  a  Dissertation  upon  Ballads."  He  is  evi- 
dently rather  afraid  of  being  thought  a  frivolous  creature  by  his 
lofty-minded  contemporaries.  He  is  a  little  uneasy  in  intro- 
ducing his  protegees  to  the  polished  public.  But  he  does  his 
duty  by  them  bravely,  only  indulging  himself  now  and  then  in  a 
little  superior  laugh  at  their  expense.  He  gives  what  account 
he  can  of  the  theme  of  each  one,  and  shows  always  a  thorough 
interest  in  his  work.  But  the  time  was  not  yet  ripe  for  his 
labours.  The  popularity  that  attended  the  first  appearance  of 
his  collection  soon  ceased.  The  predominant  character  of  the 
age  was  not  changed.  The  old  voices  could  not  yet  secure  a 
hearing.  The  age  clung  to  its  idols.  Its  Pharisaic  spirit  was 
too  strong  to  be  restrained.  It  could  not  yet  believe  that  out 
of  the  mouth  of  the  common  people  there  was  ordained  strength. 
After  the  middle  of  the  century  some  promise  was  shown  of 

*  Dr.  Farmer  ascribes  it  to  Ambrose  PhiUips.    See  Lowndes,  under  "Ballads;» 
— W.C. 


IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


XVU 


a  better  era.  In  Capell's  "Prolusions,  or  Select  Pieces  of 
Antient  Poetry,  compil'd  with  great  care  from  their  several 
Originals,  and  offer'd  to  the  Publick  as  Specimens  of  the 
Integrity  that  should  be  found  in  the  Editions  of  Worthy 
Authors,"  published  in  1760,  appeared  the  "Not-browne 
Mayde,"  no  longer  accompanied  by  a  modernised  version.  This 
book  gives  hints  of  the  reaction  that  was  coming  against  the  old 
manipulating  method.  "  Fidelity  to  the  best  Texts,"  is  its 
watchword.  In  the  same  year  (1760)  appeared  Macpherson's 
Ossian,  and  produced  an  immense  sensation.  Bishop  Percy, 
with  the  good  wishes  and  assistance  of  many  then  distinguished 
men — of  Shenstone,  Garrick,  Joseph  Warton,  Farmer — was 
supplementing  the  treasures  of  his  wonderful  Folio  MS.  from 
other  quarters,  and  preparing  the  materials  of  his  Reliques  of 
Ancient  English  Poetry.  About  the  same  time  (1764)  appeared 
Evans's  "  Specimens  of  the  Poetry  of  the  Antient  Welsh  Bards." 
Mallet's  work  on  "the  remains  of  the  Mythology  and  Poetry 
of  the  Celtes,  particularly  of  Scandinavia,"  had  already  been 
published  some  years.^  About  the  same  time  Gray  was 
writing  his  Welsh  and  Scandinavian  pieces.*  At  the  same  time 
Chatterton  was  striving  to  satisfy  the  new  taste  that  was 
spreading  with  forgeries  of  old  poems.^  The  first  decade,  then, 
of  George  III.'s  reign  is  most  memorable  in  the  history  of  the 


'  Mallet  (P.-H.)  Introduction  a  This- 
toirc  de  Dannemark,  ou  Ton  traite  do 
la  religion,  des  moeurs  et  usages  des  an- 
ciens  danois  etc.  Copenhaqne,  \lb>y-b&. 
Le^  Monument,  df  la  Mythologie  et 
de  la  Potsie  des  Cdtes  (trad,  des  Ed  da) 
ourrage  qui  fait  partie  de  cette  intro- 
duction, ont  aussi  paru  separement  avec 
un  titre  particulier,  en  17«>6.  Brunei. 
Percy's  translation  was  published  in 
1770.— F. 

-  In  1767  he  [Gray]  had  intended  a 
fe«*cond  tour  to  Scotland.  At  Dr. 
Beattie's  desire,  a  new  edition  of  his 
poems    was    puldished     by     Foulis    at 

VOL.    II. 


Glasgow ;  and  at  the  same  time  Dodsley 
was  also  printing  them  in  London.  In 
both  these  editions,  the  "  Long  Story  " 
was  omitted.  Some  pieces  of  "Welch 
and  Norwegian  poetry,  written  in  a 
l)old  and  original  manner,  were  inserted 
in  its  place.  Mitford's  Life  of  Gray, 
Works,  i.  xlix.-l. — F. 

»  Published  in  1777.  He  died  Aug. 
25th,  1770.  His  first  article,  purporting 
to  be  the  transcript  of  an  ancient  MS. 
entitled  "  A  Description  of  the  Fryers' 
first  passage  over  the  Old  Bridge," 
appeared  in  Farley's  Journal,  Bristol, 
Oct.  1768.     Peniu/Cycl.—Y. 


XVili  THE    RETIVAL  OF   BALLAD  POETRY 

revival  of  our  ballad  poetry.  Then  commenced  an  appreciation 
of  it  which  has  grown  stronger  and  stronger  with  the  lapse  of 
years.  Then  it  found  itself  so  well  supported  that  it  was  able 
to  hold  up  its  head  in  spite  of  peremptory  contemptuous 
criticism.  It  feared  no  more  the  frowns  of  the  greats  Its 
beauty  was  no  longer  to  be  hid — its  light  no  longer  veiled  away 
from  men's  eyes.  "  Even  from  the  tomb  the  voice  of  nature 
cried."  In  the  midst  of  conventionalisms  and  artificialities, 
Simplicity  and  Truth  asserted  themselves.  The  age  was  growing 
sick  and  weary  of  its  old  darlings ;  growing  sensible  that  there 
was  no  salvation  in  them,  no  infallibility,  no  supreme  delight  in 
their  worship : 

Natoram  expeUas  furcA,  tamen  usque  recurret. 

Cinderella  had  sat  by  the  kitchen  fire  for  many  a  day.  For 
many  a  day  the  elder  sisters,  tricked  out  in  all  the  modish 
finery  of  the  time,  every  attitude  studied,  every  look  elaborated 
every  movement  affected,  had  possessed  the  drawing-room  in  all 
their  fashionable  state.  Cinderella  down  in  the  kitchen  had 
heard  the  rustle  of  their  fine  silks  and  satins,  and  the  sound  of 
their  polite  conversation.  She  had  been  perplexed  by  their 
polished  verbiage,  and  felt  her  own  awkwardness  and  rusticity. 
She  had  never  dared  to  think  herself  beautiful.  No  admiring 
eyes  ever  came  near  her  in  which  she  might  mirror  herself. 
She  had  never  dared  to  think  her  voice  sweet.  No  rapt  ears 
ever  drank  in  fondly  its  accents.  She  felt  herself  a  plain- 
faced,  dull-souled,  uninteresting  person,  not  worthy  to  receive 
any  attention  from  any  one  of  the  fine  gentlemen  who  adored 
her  sisters,  or  to  enter  their  well-mannered  society.  But  her 
lowliness  was  to  be  regarded.  The  songs  she  had  sung  in  the 
kitchen  to  the  servants — her  humble,  impretentious  songs — 
they  were  to  find  greater  favour  than  ever  did  those  of  her 
much-complimented  sisters.  She  too  was  to  be  the  belle  of 
balls.     It  was  about  the  year  1760  when  the  possibility  of  so 


IN    THE   EIGHTEENTH    CENTURY.  xix 

great  a  change  in  her  condition  became  first  conceivable.  She 
met  with  many  enemies,  yrho  clamoured  that  the  kitchen  was 
her  proper  place,  and  vehemently  opposed  her  admission  into 
any  higher  room.  The  Prince  was  long  in  finding  her  out. 
The  sisters  put  many  an  obstacle  between  him  and  her.  They 
could  not  understand  the  failure  of  their  own  attractions. 
They  could  not  appreciate  the  excellence  of  hers.  But  at  last 
the  Prince  found  her,  and  took  her  in  all  her  simple  sweetness 
to  himsel£  At  last,  to  lay  metaphors  aside,  England  ac- 
knowledged the  power  and  beauty  of  the  ballads  that  had 
sufiFered  for  so  long  a  time  such  grievous  neglect. 

At  the  accession  of  George  III.,  William  Whitehead  was  in 
the  third  year  of  his  adornment  of  the  Poet  Laiu-eateship. 
"  The  Pleasures  of  Imagination,"  "  The  Schoolmistress,"  "  The 
Complaint,  or  Night  Thoughts  on  Life,  Death,  and  Immor- 
tality"— works  which  had  been  given  to  the  world  some 
sixteen  or  eighteen  years  before — were  at  the  zenith  of  their 
fame.  The  general  character  of  our  literature  at  this  time 
was  wholly  didactic.  We  cannot  wonder,  then,  if  the  appear- 
auce  of  a  poetry  that  was  weighted  with  no  overbearing  moral, 
or  other  purpose,  produced  a  tremendous  efi^ect.  We  may  be 
prepared  to  understand  the  prodigious  excitement  caused  by  the 
publication  in  1760  of  "  The  Works  of  Ossian  the  Son  of  Fingal, 
translated  from  the  Gaelic  language  by  James  Macpherson.'' 
With  all  their  magniloquence,  they  did  not  sermonise ;  they 
expressed  some  genuine  feeling.  Amidst  all  their  affected  cries 
there  was  a  true  voice  audible.  Three  years  subsequently, 
Bishop  Percy,  moved  by  Ossian's  popularity,  published  a  transla- 
tion from  the  Icelandic  language  of  five  pieces  of  Runic  poetry. 

In  the  following  year,  1764,  appeared  "Some  Specimens  of 
the  Poetry  of  the  Ancient  Welsh  Bards  translated  into  English, 
with  Explanatory  Notes  on  the  Historical  Passages,  and  a  short 
Account  of  Men  and  Places  mentioned  by  the  Bards,  in  order 

b2 


XX  THE    REVIVAL   OF   BALLAD   POETRY 

to  give  the  Curious  some  Idea  of  the  Taste  and  Sentiments  of 
our  Ancesters  and  their  Manner  of  Writing,  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Evan  Evans,  curate  of  Glanvair  Talyhaem  in  Denbighshire'* 
— a  work  with  which  Gray  was  familiar.  Shortly  afterwards 
appeared  Gray's  own  translations,  made  from  translations, 
of  Norse  and  Welsh  pieces  :  "  The  Fatal  Sisters,"  "  The 
Descent  of  Odin,"  "  The  Triumphs  of  Owen,"  and  "  The  Death 
of  Hoel."  About  the  time,  then,  of  the  appearance  of  the 
Reliques  in  1765,  there  was  dispersed  over  the  country  some 
slight  knowledge  of  the  old  Celtic  and  of  Scandinavian  poetry. 
And  now  the  age  was  ripe  for  the  reception  of  such  a  collec- 
tion of  old  ballads  as  had  been  published  some  forty  years,  but 
had  then,  after  a  short-lived  circulation,  fallen  into  neglect 
Thomas  Percy,  the  son  of  a  grocer  at  Bridgenorth,  Shropshire, 
a  graduate  of  Oxford,  vicar  of  Easton  Maudit,  Northampton- 
shire, was  by  nature  something  of  an  antiquarian.  When  **  very 
young,"  he  became  possessed  of  a  folio  MS.  of  old  ballads  and 
romances.  "  This  very  curious  old  MS."  he  says  in  a  memo- 
randum made  in  the  old  folio  itself,  "  in  its  present  mutilated 
state,  but  unbound  and  sadly  torn,  I  rescued  from  destruction, 
and  begged  at  the  hands  of  my  worthy  friend  Humphrey  Pitt,  Esq. 
then  living  at  Shiffnal  in  Shropshire,  afterwards  of  Prior  Lee 
near  that  town ;  who  died  very  lately  at  Bath  ;  viz.  in  Summer 
1769.  I  saw  it  lying  dirty  on  the  floor  under  a  Bureau  in  y* 
Parlour :  being  used  by  the  maids  to  light  the  fire."  "  When  I 
first  got  possession  of  this  MS."  he  says  in  another  entry  in  the 
same  place,  "  I  was  very  young,  and  being  in  no  degree  an 
Antiquary,  I  had  not  then  learnt  to  reverence  it ;  which  must 
be  my  excuse  for  the  scribble  which  I  then  spread  over  some 
parts  of  its  margin;  and  in  one  or  two  instances,  for  even 
taking  out  the  leaves,  to  save  the  trouble  of  transcribing.  I 
have  since  been  more  careful."  Besides  this  famous  folio,  he 
possessed  also  a  quarto  MS.  volume  of  similar  pieces,  supposed 


IN    THE   EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY.  Xxi 

to  be  the  same  as  one  still  in  the  hands  of  his  family,  and  con- 
taining only  copies  of  printed  poems.  The  folio  has  remained 
in  the  hands  of  the  Bishop's  family  in  the  greatest  privacy 
hitherto ;  Jamieson  and  Sir  F.  Madden  being  (I  believe)  the 
only  editors  who  have  printed  from  it,  though  Dibdin  was 
allowed  to  catalogue  part  of  it.  It  is  now  at  last,  as  our  readers 
know,  being  printed  just  as  it  is.  These  volumes  had  in  Percy 
a  (for  that  time)  highly  appreciative  possessor.  He  determined 
to  introduce  to  the  public  some  specimens  of  their  contents. 
This  proposal  was  promoted  by  the  sympathy  of  many  then  dis- 
tinguished men:  of  Shenstone,  Bird,  Grainger,  Steevens,  Farmer, 
and  by  others  of  still  greater  and  more  enduring  note — Garrick 
and  Goldsmith.  At  last,  in  1765  appeared  Reliquea  of  Ancient 
English  Poetry ^  consisting  of  Old  Heroic  Ballads^  Songs,  and 
other  pieces  of  our  earlier  poets  (chiefly  of  the  Lyric  kind) 
together'  iviih  some  few  of  later  date.  The  editor,  even  as  the 
editor  of  the  collection  of  1723,  of  whom  we  have  spoken,  has, 
manifestly,  some  misgivings  about  the  character  of  his  protegees. 
He  is  not  quite  sure  how  they  will  be  received  by  his  polite 
contemporaries.  He  speaks  of  them,  in  his  Dedication  of  his 
volumes  to  the  Countess  of  Northumberland  (he  was  extremely 
ambitious  to  connect  himself  with  the  great  Percies  of  the 
North),  as  "the  rude  songs  of  ancient  minstrels,"  "the  barbarous 
productions  of  unpolished  ages,"  and  is  troubled  for  fear  lest  he 
should  be  guilty  of  some  impropriety  in  hoping  that  they  "  can 
obtain  the  approbation  or  the  notice  of  her,  who  adorns  courts 
by  her  presence,  and  diffuses  elegance  by  her  example.  But 
this  impropriety,  it  is  presumed,  will  disappear  when  it  is 
declared  that  these  poems  are  presented  to  your  Ladyship,  not  as 
labours  of  art  but  as  effusions  of  nature,  shewing  the  first  efforts 
of  ancient  genius,  and  exhibiting  the  customs  and  opinions  of 
remote  ages."  In  his  Preface  he  says  that  "as  most  of"  the  con- 
tents of  his  folio  MS.  "  are  of  great  simplicity,  and  seem  to  have 


XXll  THE  REVIVAL  OF  BALLAD  POETRY 

been  merely  written  for  the  people,  the  possessor  was  long  in 
doubt,  whether  in  the  present  state  of  improved  literature  they 
could  be  deemed  worthy  the  attention  of  the  public.  At  length 
the  importunity  of  his  friends  prevailed."  "  In  a  polished  age, 
like  the  present,  he  adds, "  I  am  sensible  that  many  of  these 
reliques  of  antiquity  will  require  great  allowances  to  be  made 
for  them.  Yet  have  they,  for  the  most  part,  a  pleasing  simpli- 
city, and  many  artless  graces,  which  in  the  opinion  of  no  mean 
critics  [a  foot-note  cites  Addison,  Dryden,  Lord  Dorset  &c.,  and 
Selden]  have  been  thought  to  compensate  for  the  want  of  higher 
beauties,  and  if  they  do  not  dazzle  the  imagination  [Did  "  The 
School-mistress,"  "  The  Sugar-cane,"  dazzle  the  imagination?] 
are  frequently  found  to  interest  the  heart."  Still  more  striking 
are  the  following  words :  **  To  atone  for  the  rudeness  of  the  more 
obsolete  poems,  each  volume  concludes  with  a  few  modern 
attempts  in  the  same  kind  of  writing."  And  then  he  buttresses 
his  volumes  with  eminent  names — Shenstone,  Thomas  Warton, 
Garrick,  Johnson  (we  shall  see  presently  how  far  Johnson  was 
likely  to  smile  on  his  undertaking),  which  "  names  of  so  many 
men  of  learning  and  character,  the  editor  hopes  will  serve  as  an 
amulet,  to  guard  him  from  every  imfavourable  censure  for 
having  bestowed  any  attention  on  a  parcel  of  Old  Ballads.  It 
was  at  the  request  of  many  of  these  gentlemen,  and  of  others 
eminent  for  their  genius  and  taste,  that  this  little  work  was 
undertaken.  To  prepare  it  for  the  press  has  been  the  amuse- 
ment of  now  and  then  a  vacant  hour  amid  the  leisure  and 
retirement  of  rural  life,  and  hath  only  served  as  a  relaxation 
from  graver  studies.  It  hath  been  taken  up  and  thrown  aside 
for  many  months  during  an  interval  of  four  or  five  years."  With 
such  apologies  and  antidotes  did  the  Reliques  make  their  debUt  1 
How  strange — what  a  wonderful  tale  of  altered  taste  it  tells — 
that  in  order  to  make  "  Chevy  Chase,"  "  Edom  o'  Gordon," 
"  Little  Musgrave  and  I^dy  Barnard,"  endurable,  to  reconcile 


IN   THB   EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY.  Xxiii 

the  reader  to  their  rudeness^  such  charming  chaperonea  should  be 
assigned  them  as  "  Bryan  and  Pereene,  a  West  Indian  ballad  by 
Dr.  Grainger,"  **  Jemmy  Dawson,  by  Mr.  Shenstone  "  !  "Bryan 
and  Pereene,"  "  founded  on  a  real  fact,"  narrates  how  Pereene, 
"  the  pride  of  Indian  dames,"  went  down  to  the  sea-shore  to  meet 
her  lover,  who,  after  an  absence  in  England  of  one  long  long  year 
one  month  and  day,  was  returning  to  St.  Christopher's  and  his 
mistress. 

Soon  aB  his  well-known  ship  she  spied 

She  cast  her  weeds  away, 
And  to  the  palmy  shore  she  hied 

All  in  her  best  array. 

In  sea-green  silk,  so  neatly  clad 
She  there  impatient  stood ; 

Bryan,  seeing  her  in  the  said  sea-green  silk,  impatient  also, 
leapt  overboard  in  the  hope  of  reaching  her  sooner. 

The  crew  with  wonder  saw  the  lad 
RepeU  the  foaming  flood. 

Her  hands  a  handkerchief  display'd, 

Which  he  at  parting  gave  ; 
Well-pleas*d  the  token  he  survey'd, 

And  manlier  beat  the  wave. 

Her  fair  companions  one  and  all 

Rejoicing  crowd  the  strand  ; 
For  now  her  lover  swam  in  call, 

And  almost  touch'd  the  land. 

Then  through  the  white  surf  did  she  haste, 

To  clasp  her  lovely  swain  ; 
When  ah  I  a  shark  bit  through  his  waist, 

His  heart's  blood  dy'd  the  main. 

He  shriek'd !  his  half  sprang  from  the  wave, 

Streaming  with  purple  gore, 
And  soon  it  found  a  living  grave. 

And  ah !  was  seen  no  more. 


XXiv  THE  REVIVAL  OF  BALLAD  POETRY 

Now  haste,  now  haste,  ye  maids,  I  pray, 

Fetch  water  from  the  spring; 
She  falls,  she  swoons,  she  dies  away, 

And  soon  her  knell  they  ring. 

And  so  the  doleful  ditty  ends  with  an  injunction  to  the  "fair," 
to  strew  her  tomb  with  fresh  flowerets  every  May  morning,  to 
the  end  that  they  and  their  lovers  may  not  come  to  similar 
distress."  Jemmy  Dawson  was  one  of  the  Manchester  rebels 
who  took  part  in  the  '45,  and  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered 
on  Kennington  Common  in  1746. 

Their  colours  and  their  sash  he  wore, 

And  in  the  fatal  dress  was  found ; 
And  now  he  must  that  death  endure, 

Which  gives  the  brave  the  keenest  wound. 

How  pale  was  then  his  true  love's  cheek, 
When  Jemmy's  sentence  reach'd  her  ear ; 

For  never  yet  did  Alpine  snows. 
So  pale,  nor  yet  so  chill  appear. 

With  faltering  voice  she  weeping  said, 

Oh !  Dawson,  monarch  of  my  heart. 
Think  not  thy  death  shall  end  oujr  loves, 

For  thou  and  I  will  never  part. 

Poor  Kitty  inflexibly  witnesses  his  execution. 

The  dismal  scene  was  o'er  and  past. 

The  lover's  mournful  hearse  retir'd  ; 
The  maid  drew  back  her  languid  head. 

And  sighing  forth  his  name  expir'd. 

Such  were  the  pieces  whose  elegance  was  to  make  atonement 
to  the  readers  of  a  century  ago,  for  the  barbarousness  of  the 
other  components  of  the  ReUques. 

This  barbarousness  was  further  mitigated  by  an  application 
of  a  polishing  process  to  the  ballads  themselves.  Percy  per- 
formed the  offices  of  a  sort  of  tireman  for  them.  He  dressed 
and  adorned  them  to  go  into  polite  society.  To  how  great  an 
extent  he  laboured  in  their  service,  is  now  at  last  manifested  by 
the  publication  of  the  Folio.     The  old   ]MS.  contained   many 


IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY.  XXV 

pieces  which,  it  would  seem,  were  considered  hopeless.  No 
amount  of  manipulation  could  ever  make  them  presentable. 
It  contained  many  pieces  and  many  fragments — thanks  to  the 
anxiety  of  Mr.  Humphrey  Pitt's  servants  to  light  his  fires ! — 
which  the  art  of  the  editorial  refiner  of  the  eighteenth  century 
deemed  capable  of  adaptation ;  and  Percy  adapted  them.  The 
old  ballads  could  reckon  on  no  genuine  sympathy.  They  were, 
so  to  speak,  the  songs  of  Zion  in  a  strange  land. 

Percy,  as  the  extracts  we  have  quoted  from  his  Dedication 
and  Preface  have  shown,  was  not  free  from  the  prejudices  of  his 
time.  He  was  but  slightly  in  advance  of  them  ;  but  he  was  in 
advance  of  them.  He  did  recognise  the  power  and  beauty  of 
the  old  poetry,  more  deeply,  perhaps,  than  he  ever  dared 
confess.  And,  though  unconscious  of  the  greatness  of  the  work 
he  was  doing,  did  for  us — for  Europe — an  unutterable  service. 
He  was,  to  the  end,  curiously  unconscious  of  it.  He  had  given 
a  deadly  blow  to  a  terrible  giant,  and  freed  many  captives  from 
his  thraldom,  without  knowing.  Men  are  often  reminded  to  be 
delicately  careful  in  their  actions,  because  they  know  not  what 
barm  they  may  do.  They  might  sometimes  be  encouraged 
by  the  thought  that  they  know  not  what  good  they  do. 
Certainly  Percy  performed  for  English  literature  a  far  higher 
service  than  he  ever  dreamt  of.  He  always  regarded  the 
Rdlqiies  as  something  rather  frivolous.  "I  read  'Edwin  and 
Aiio^elina '  to  Mr.  Percy  some  years  ago/'  writes  Goldsmith,  in 
1767,  to  the  printer  of  the  St,  Jaines^  Chronicle,  who  had 
assigned  Goldsmith's  ballad  to  Percy,  "and  he  (as  we  both 
considered  these  things  as  trifles  at  best)  told  me,  with  his  usual 
goodbumour,  the  next  time  I  saw  him,  that  he  had  taken  my 
plan  to  form  the  fragments  of  Shakespeare  into  a  ballad  of  his 
own.  He  then  read  me  his  little  cento,  if  I  may  so  call 
it,  and  I  highly  approved  of  it."  "  I  am  so  little  interested 
about    tlte   amusemenis   of  my   youth,''   writes  Percy   to   his 


XXVI  TffE   REVITAL  OF   BALLAD    POETRf 

publisher  in  1794,  "  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  benefit  of  my 
nephew,  I  could  contentedly  have  let  the  Reliques  of  Ancient 
Poetry  remain  unpublished."  The  great  eflfect  the  memorable 
work  produced  came  "  not  with  observation.'' 

With  all  the  consideration  Percy  showed  for  the  prevailing 
taste,  he  did  not  succeed  in  winning  over  to  his  support  certain 
great  leaders  of  it.  He  was  extremely  solicitous  to  secure 
the  approval  of  the  leader  of  the  leaders  of  it — of  that  supreme 
potentate.  Dr.  Johnson.  In  his  Preface  he  twice  mentions  him : 
first,  as  having  urged  him  to  publish  a  selection  from  the  Folio 
("  He  could  refuse  nothing,"  he  says,  **  to  such  judges  as  the 
author  of  the  Rambler,  and  the  late  Mr.  Shenstone,") ;  and 
secondly,  as  having  lightened  his  editorial  task  with  his  assist- 
ance ("  To  the  friendship  of  Mr.  Johnson,"  he  writes,  '*  he  owes 
many  valuable  hints  for  the  conduct  of  his  work  ").  But,  for  all 
these  complimentary  mentions,  Johnson  seems  to  have  Uked 
neither  the  work  nor  its  author,  as  may  be  seen  in  Boswell 
again  and  again  ;  thus :  ^^  The  conversation  having  tiurned  on 
modem  imitations  of  ancient  ballads,  and  some  one  having 
praised  their  simplicity,  he  treated  ^hem  with  that  ridicule 
which  he  always  displayed  when  that  subject  was  mentioned." 
The  177th  number  of  the  Rambler  gives  a  satirical  account  of  a 
Club  of  Antiquaries.  Hirsute,  we  are  told,  had  a  passion  for 
black-letter  books;  Ferratus  for  coins;  Chartophylax  for 
gazettes ;  *^  Cantilenus  turned  all  his  thoughts  upon  old  ballads, 
for  he  considered  them  as  the  genuine  records  of  the  natural 
taste.  He  ofiFered  to  show  me  a  copy  of  The  Children  of  the 
Wood,  which  he  firmly  believed  to  be  of  the  first  edition,  and 
by  the  help  of  which  the  text  might  be  freed  from  several 
corruptions,  if  this  age  of  barbarity  had  any  claim  to  such 
favours  from  him."  In  his  Life  of  Addison,  after  a  sarcastic 
reference  to  his  Spectators  on  '*  Chevy  Chase,"  and  Wagstaflfs 
ridicule  of  them,  he  adds,  in  modification  of  Dennis's  reduciio 


IN    THE    EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY.  XXvii 

bsurdum  of  Addison's  canon — that  *^  Chevy  Chase  "  pleases, 
ought  to  please,  because  it  is  natural — "  In  Chevy  Chase 

is  not  much  of  either  bombast  or  affectation,  but  there  is 
and  lifeless  imbecility.     The  story  cannot  possibly  be  told 

manner  that  shall  make  less  impression   on  the  mind." 

what  horror  the  ghost  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney  must  have 
struck  if  ever  it  was  aware  of  this  crushing  dictum  !     Still 

suggestive  are  his  observations  on  another  old  ballad. 
3  greatest  of  all  his  amorous  essays,"  he  remarks  in  his 
of  Prior,  *'is  Henry  and  Emma  —  a  dull  and  tedious 
Tue,  which  excites  neither  esteem  for  the  man  nor  tender- 
for  the  woman.  The  example  of  Emma,  who  resolves  to 
7  an  outlawed  murderer  wherever  fear  and  guilt  shall  drive 
deserves  no  imitation  [would  Johnson  have  said  that  the 
)coon,"  or  the  "  Venus  de  Medici,"  deserved  an  imitation  ? 
could  his  critical  rules  have  been  applied  to  them  ?],  and 
experiment  by  which  Henry  tries  the  lady's  constancy  is 
as  roust  end  either  in  infamy  to  her  or  in  disappointment 
mself."  With  these  terrible  sentences  in  our  ear,  let  us 
these  stanzas : 

Though  it  })o  songe 

Of  old  &  yonge, 

That  I  shold  be  to  blame, 

Theyrs  >.e  the  charge 
That  Bpeke  bo  large 
In  hastynge  of  my  name  ; 
For  I  wyll  prove 
That  fayihfidh  love. 
It  is  devoyd  of  shame  ; 
In  your  dystresso, 
And  hevynesse, 
To  part  with  you  the  same ; 
And  pure  all  tho 
Tliat  do  not  fo 
True  lovers  are  they  none. 
For  in  my  mynde 
Of  all  mankyndc 
I  love  but  you  alone. 


XX7111  THE  REVIVAL  OF  BALLAD  POETRY 

« 
And,  I  thinke  nat  nay 

But  as  ye  say, 
It  is  no  mayden's  lore  ; 
But  love  may  make 
Me  for  your  sake, 
As  I  have  sayd  before, 
To  come  on  foote 
To  hunt,  to  shote 
To  gete  us  mete  in  store  ; 
For  so  that  I 
Your  companey 
May  have,  I  ask  no  more. 
From  which  to  part, 
It  makyth  my  hart 
As  colde  as  ony  stone  ; 
For  in  my  mynde 
Of  all  mankynde 
I  love  but  you  alone. 

Bead  these  high  passionate  words,  and  think  of  Johnson's 
criticism.  *  He  misses,  evidently,  the  point  of  the  poem — does 
not  see  how  one  noble  idea  permeates  and  vivifies  every  line, 
and  glorifies  the  self-abandonment  confessed. 

Here  may  ye  see 

That  women  be 

In  love,  meke,  kynde,  and  stable ; 

Late  never  man 

Reprove  them  than, 

Or  call  them  variable ; 

But  rather  pray 

God  that  we  may 

To  them  be  comfortable. 

His  criticism  of  the  "  Nut-brown  Maid  "  makes  his  dislike  of  the 
old  ballads  intelligible  enough.  We  can  imderstand  now  how 
he  came  to  despise  and  abuse  them,  and  parody  their  form  in 
this  wise : 

*  Cf.  Mr.  Gilpin's  (Saurey-Gilpin,  an  the  same  woman  whom  the  Rake  dis- 

artist,  1733-1807i)  remark,  ap«<f  Nichols  cards  in  the  first  print,  by  whom  he  is 

and  Steevens'  Hogarth^  on  Uie  seventh  rescued  in  the  fourth,  who  is  present  at 

plate  of  the   Rake's   Progress  :   "  The  his  marriage,  who  follows  him  into  jail, 

episode  of  the  fainting  woman   might  and  lastly  to  Bedlam.     The  thought  is 

have  given  way  to  many  circumstances  rv^JJ^ei  }xnjiiiX\}idX^  and  the  mor<U  certainly 

more  proper  to  the  occasion.     This  is  culpable" 


IN    THE   EIOHTEENTH    CENTURY.  Xxix 

The  teoder  infant,  meek  and  mild, 

Fell  down  upon  a  stone ; 
The  nurse  took  up  the  squealing  child, 

But  still  the  child  squeal'd  on. 

Warburton,  Hurd,  and  others  heartily  concurred  in  his  opinion. 
Warburton  thought  that  the  old  ballads  were  utterly  despicable 
by  the  side  of  the  exalted  literature  of  his  own  and  recent 
times.  He  called  them  "specious  funguses  compared  to  the 
oak." 

But  in  the  face  of  this  contumely,  looked  down  on  and  sneered 
at  by  the  learning  and  refinement  of  the  age,  the  old  ballads 
grew  dear  to  the  heart  of  the  nation.  They  stirred  emotions 
that  had  long  lain  dormant.  They  revived  fires  that  had  long 
slumbered.  The  nation  lay  in  prison  like  its  old  Troubadour 
king;  in  its  durance  it  heard  its  minstrel  singing  beneath  the 
window  its  old  songs,  and  its  heart  leapt  in  its  bosom.  It 
recognised  the  well-known,  though  long-neglected,  strains  that 
it  had  heard  and  loved  in  the  days  of  its  youth.  The  old  love 
revived.  The  captive  could  not  at  once  cast  oflF  its  fetters,  and 
go  forth.  But  a  yearning  for  liberty  awoke  in  it ;  a  wild, 
growing,  passionate  longing  for  liberty,  for  real,  not  artificial 
flowers ;  for  true  feeling,  not  sentimentalism ;  for  the  fresh 
life-giving  breezes  of  the  open  country,  not  the  languid  airs 
of  enclosed  courts. 

As  one  who  long  in  populous  city  pent. 
Where  houses  thick  and  sewers  annoy  the  air, 
Forth  issuing  on  a  summer's  morn,  to  breathe 
Among  the  pleasant  villages  and  farms 
Adjoin'd,  from  each  thing  met  conceives  delight, 
The  smell  of  grain,  or  tedded  grass,  or  kine. 
Or  dairy,  each  rural  sight,  each  rural  sound, 

so  did  the  nation  issue  forth  from  its  confinement,  and  conceive 
truer,  more  comprehensive  joys. 

The  publication  of  the  Reliques^  then,  constitutes  an  epoch  in 
the  history  of  the  great  revival  of  taste,  in  whose  blessings  we 


XXX  THE  REVIVAL  OF  BALLAD  POETRY 

now  participate.  After  1765,  before  the  end  of  the  century, 
numerous  collections  of  old  ballads,  in  Scotland  and  in  England, 
by  Evans,  Pinkerton,  Hurd,  Eitson,  were  made.  The  noble 
reformation,  that  received  so  great  an  impulse  in  1765,  ad- 
vanced thenceforward  steadily.  The  taste  that  was  awakened 
never  slumbered  again.  The  recognition  of  our  old  life  and 
poetry  that  the  Reliques  gave,  was  at  last  gloriously  confirmed 
and  established  by  Walter  Scott.  That  great  minstrel  was 
profoundly  influenced  by  the  ReliqueSy  both  directly  and  in- 
directly, through  Burger  and  others  who  had  drunk  deep  of  its 
waters. 

"  Among  the  valuable  acquisitions,"  says  Scott  in  his  Autobi- 
ography, writing  of  his  studies  after  his  leaving  Edinburgh  High 
School,  "  I  made  about  this  time,  was  an  acquaintance  with 
Tasso's  *  Jerusalem  Delivered '  through  the  flat  medium  of  Mr. 
Hoole's  translation.  But  above  all  I  then  first  became  acquainted 
with  Bishop  Fercy'^a  Reliques  of  Ancient  Poetry.  As  I  had  been 
from  infancy  devoted  to  legendary  lore  of  this  nature,  and  only 
reluctantly  withdrew  my  attention  from  the  scarcity  of  materials 
and  the  rudeness  of  those  which  I  possessed,  it  may  be  imagined, 
but  cannot  be  described,  with  what  delight  I  saw  pieces  of  the 
same  kind  whcih  had  amused  my  childhood,  and  still  continued 
in  secret  the  Delilahs  of  my  imagination,  considered  as  the  subject 
of  sober  research,  grave  commentary,  and  apt  illustration  by  an 
editor  who  showed  his  practical  genius  was  capable  of  emulating 
the  best  qualities  of  what  his  pious  labour  preserved.  I  re- 
member well  the  spot  where  I  read  these  volumes  for  the  first 
time.  It  was  beneath  a  huge  plantaine  tree,  in  the  ruins  of 
what  had  been  intended  for  an  old-fashioned  arbour  in  the 
garden  I  have  mentioned.  The  summer  day  sped  onwards  so 
fast  that,  notwithstanding  the  sharp  appetite  of  thirteen,  I 
forgot  the  hour  of  dinner,  was  sought  for  with  anxiety,  and  was 
still  found  entranced  in  my  intellectual  banquet.     To  read  and 


I!C  THK  KIOHTKENTH   CENTURY.  Xxxi 

to  remember  was  in  this  instance  the  same  thing,  and  hence- 
f*rth  I  overwhelmed  my  schoolfellows  and  all  who  would 
h<*arkeD  to  me  with  tragical  recitations  from  the  ballads  of 
Ri»bop  Percy.  Tlie  first  time  too  I  could  scrape  a  few  shillings 
t'-g^hfr,  which  were  not  common  occurrences  with  me,  I  bought 
urit.»  myself  a  copy  of  these  beloved  volumes;  nor  do  I  believe 
I    ever    read   a   book   half    so   frequently   or    with   half    the 


XXXIU 


ON  "BONDMAN," 

THE  NAME  AND  THE  CLASS, 

WITH  BBFBBBKCB  TO   TUB  BAULAD   OF  *' JOHN  BB   BSBUB. 

Bt  F.  J.  FURNIVALL. 


Johnson's  definition  of  bondman  is  "  a  man  slave."  To  it  his 
latest  editor.  Dr.  Latham,  puts  neither  addition  nor  qualification ; 
and  the  popular  notion  undoubtedly  is,  that  whenever  the  word 
is  used,  of  Early  English  times  or  modern,  a  slave  is  understood, 
one  whose  person,  wife,  children,  and  property,  are  wholly  in 
his  owner's  power.  We  have  to  ask  how  far  this  popular  notion 
is  true  with  regard  to  our  Bondmen^  John  de  Reeue,  Hobkin  or 
Hodgkin  long,  and  Hob  o'  the  Lathe,  and  their  class. 

I  do  not  find  the  word  bondhnan  in  English  till  about  1250 
A.D.,  taking  that  as  the  date  of  the  Owl  a/ad  Nightingaie : 

Moni  chapmon  and  moni  cniht 
LaTe[>  and  halt '  his  wif  ariht ; 
And  swa  del^  moni  hondeman, 
*  (Old  and  Nightingale,  1.  1575,  p.  49,  ed.  Stratmann,  1868.) 

The  earlier  word  was  bonde,  and  the  earliest  the  Anglo-Saxon 
bonday  which  Thorpe  rightly  derives  and  defines  as  follows  in 
his  glossary  to  the  Ancient  Laws  : 

Bonda,  boor,  paterfamilias.  This  word  was  probably  introduced 
by  the  Danes,  and  seems  occasionally  to  have  been  used  for  ceorl ; 
its  immediate  derivation  is  firom  O.  N.  buandi,  con tr [acted  to]  handiy 
villicus,  colonus  qui  foco  utitur  proprio ;  part.  pres.  used  substantively 
of  at  hud,  Goth,  gabauan  habitare ;  modem  Danish  bonde,  peasant, 
husbandman. 

Bosworth  on  the  other  hand  defines  Bonda  as 

1.  One  bound,  a  husband,  householder.  2.  A  proprietor,  husband- 
man, boor  :  Bande-land  land  held  under  restrictions,  copyhold. 

»  MS.  Cot.  h/ad, 
VOL.  II.  c 


XXXIV 


ON    "bondman." 


Whether  *  one  bound '  (as  if  from  bondj  and-a  one  who  has ; 
like  ivced  a  garment,  wceda  one  who  has  a  garment,)  is  the  original 
sense  of  the  word,  is  more  than  doubtful ;  and  till  the  proof  is 
produced,  I  reject  the  meaning  as  original,^  though  no  doubt 
at  a  later  period  this  sense  prevailed  over  the  Scandinavian 
Mr.  Wedgwood  says  under  Husband : 


one. 


From  Old  Norse  hua  (the  equivalent  of  G.  baicen,  Du.  howeUj  to 
till,  cultivate,  prepare)  are  hu  a  household,  farm,  cattle ;  h\umdi, 
ho7idi\^  N.  bo7ide  tlie  possessor  of  a  farm,  husbandman ;  husband  or 


'  bondi  {d.  i,  boandi  =»  buandi,  der 
Sonde,  /reier  Grundbesitzer^  HausvateTf 
pi.  hctndr  mariti. — Mobius. 

*  Mr.  Cockayne  says  "  The  word  5on<f 
bound  has  no  existence  but  in  Somner, 
whence  others  have  copied  it.  Bos- 
worth  has  built  on  Bond  a  guess,  Bond  a 
one  bound,  which  is  a  delusion.  For 
Bound,  the  true  word  is  bunden^  and  for 
a  Bond,  bend.**  Mr.  Earle  also  rejects 
the  derivation  from  hond^  and  the  mean- 
ing "one  bound."  Mr.  Thorpe  savs 
that  Ettmiiller  (p.  293)  questions  the 
buandi,  bondi  derivation,  but  without 
sufficient  prounds,  in  Mr.  Thorpe's 
opinion.  Haldorson  accepts  it  "  Bondi 
m.  paterfamilias  (quasi  boandi,  buandi) 
en  Husfader,  Husbandc,  L.  Colonus, 
ruricola,  en  Bonde,  Stdrbatndr  prsedica- 
tores  (Bonds  with  a  large  house  and 
extensive  ground),  Smabcendr  villici 
(Bonds  wiux  a  small  house  and  little 
yard)."  Mr.  Skeat  notes  "  Bosworth  also 
gives  Buend^  bttgend,  bttgigend,  as  mean- 
ing an  inhabitant,  a  farmer,  from  buan, 
to  dwell,  cultivate.  This  comes  nearer 
to  the  Dan.  and  Sw.  bonde  as  regards 
etymology,  though  it  is  not  so  near  in 
form.  Cf.  A.-Sax.  buan,  Mosso-Goth. 
bauaUt  gabauan^  to  dwell,  bauains,  a 
dwelling-place.  The  G.  bauery  peasant, 
is  the  Du.  boer,  and  our  boor.  It  is 
curious  that  the  Du.  boir^  as  well  as  the 
Sw.  and  Dan.  bonde ^  signifies  '  a  pawn 
at  chess.'  I  do  not  see  how  you  dis- 
tinguish between  A.-Sax.  bonda  and 
A.-Sax.  buendy  unless  you  call  the 
former  a  Danish  word.  In  modem 
Danish  the  d  is  not  soimded,  and  the  o 
has  an  oo  sound,  so  that  bonde  is  called 
boon-ne  (Lund*s  Danish  Grammar)." 

Professor  Bosworth  has  kindly  sent 
me  the  following  note  in  support  of  the 


first  meaning  he  assigns  to  bonda.  It 
unfortunately  came  too  late — in  conse- 
quence of  the  illness  of  his  aman- 
uensis— to  be  worked  up  or  noticed  in 
the  t«xt.  "  Bunda,  bonda,  an  ;  m.  L 
A  wedded  or  married  man^  a  htuband; 
maritus,  sponsus.  II.  The  father  or 
head  of  a  family,  a  houteholder ;  pater- 
familias, (Bconomus.  Then  follow  nu- 
merous examples,  in  proof  of  these 
meanings.  Tve  gone  over  again  all 
the  examples,  and  I  have  enlarged  what 
I  had  previously  written,  as  to  the 
origin  of  '  Bunda,  bonda,'  and  given  the 
detail  in  the  following  pages. — J.  B." 
*'  Every  word  has  its  history  by  which 
its  introduction  and  use  are  best  ascer- 
tained. Bede  tells  us  [Bk.  I,  26,  2,] 
that  Ethelbert  king  of  Kent  married  a 
Christian,  Bertha,  a  Prankish  princess. 
The  Queen  prepared  the  way  for  the 
friendly  reception  of  Augustine  and  hit 
missionary  followers,  by  Ethelbert  in 
A.D.  597,  who  was  the  first  to  found  a 
school  in  Kent,  and  wrote  laws  which 
are  said  to  be  "asette  on  Angostiniis. 
dsege,"  established  in  the  time  of  Aumu* 
tine,  between  a.d.  597  and  604.  'The 
cultivation  and  writing  of  Anglo-Saxon 
[Engliscl  began  with  the  conversion 
of  Ethelbert.  Marriage,  and  the  house- 
hold arrangements  depending  upon  it^ 
were  regulated  by  the  law  ot,  the 
Church,  and  indigenous  compound  words 
were  formed  to  express  that  law : — thus 
&  law,  divine  law ;  Cristes  &  CSIrMi 
lex,  Kihte  &  legitimum  matrimomiiiiim 
Bd.  4,  5 — sSw  wedlock,  marriage,  itiW' 
boren  lawfully  bom,  bom  in  wedloek^ 
sew-brica  7n.  wedlock  breaker,  m.  an  aduA" 
terer,  aw-brice  /.  an  adtdtrest,  4s9' 
fsest-mann  marriaye-fast-man  a  wedded 
man,  a  husband ;  cew-nian  to  wed,  take 


(( 


ON    "BONDMAN. 


i> 


XXXV 


the  master  of  the  house.     Dan.  hoiide  peasant,  oountryinan, 
down. 

•e  the  word  occurs  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  Laws,  Thorpe 
es  it  **  proprietor,"  and  then  "  husband,"  meaning  "  hus- 
lio  is  a  proprietor." 

Tnbe  fri8es-b<5te,  swa  fam  hondan  si  selost,  "3  fam  ]>e<5fan  si 
'^thelredes  Domas^  vi.  xxxii.^ 

[iceming  "  jfrithes-bot,"  as  may  be  best  to  the  jproprietor  and 
stile  to  the  thief. — Ancient  Laws,  i.  322--3. 


sw-nung  wedding^  marriage — 
wedded  UHmtan. — H^-bunda, 
t  house  binder^  husband,  house- 
rhis  expressive  compound  is 
)  oldest  in  the  language.  It 
n  the  interpolated  passage  of 
between  ▼.  28  and  29.  The 
I  in  all  the  Anglo-Saxon  MSS. 
Impels,  except  the  interlineary 
The  A.-Sax.  is  a  literal  Ter- 
9  Augustinian  MS.  in  theBod- 
rary,  Oxford  [Codex,  Augvst, 
2.  14],  from  the  Old  Italic 
"om  which  the  Latin  Vulgate 
ipels  was  formed  by  St.  Jerome 
).  384.     Though  we  do  "Hot 

exact  dates  when  the  Gospels 
ilatedfrom  Latin  into  A.-Sax., 
assures  us  that  Bede  finished 
fospel,  St.  John,  on  May  27, 

Pref.  to  Goth,  and  A.-Sax. 
p.  ix-xii].  As  the  three  pre- 
>8pels  were  most  likely  trans- 
ire  St.  John,  then  the  foUow- 
ice  was  written  before  735,  Se 

[hus-bunda  in  MS.  Camb.  It. 
te  ie  arisan  and  ryman  fam 
r  householder  bid  thee  rise  and 
\for  the  other.  2sotts  to  Bos- 
iih.  and  A.-Sax.  Gos.  Aft.  xx. 
'6.     Hus-bonda  is  also  used 

in  his  version  of  the  Scrip- 
it  970  [Ex.  3,  22.]     Bunda, 

wedded  or  bound,  a  husband, 
Ian  ;  p.  band,  bundon  ;  pp. 
to  bind,  must  have  been  of 
gin  than  the  compound  hus- 
t  is  a  well-known  rule  that  in 
person  or  agent  is  denoted  by 


adding  a,*  as  bytl  a  hamrmr,  bytla  a 
hammerer,  an  weald  rtde,  gowminent, 
anwealda  a  rulir,  governor, — bunden, 
bund  bound,  bunda,  bonda  one  bound, 
a  husband.  Bunda  might  be  bands,  as 
well  as  bonda,  for  a  is  often  used  for  o, 
as  monn  for  mann  a  man.  The  early 
use  of  h^-bunda,  -bonda  would  at  once 
indicate,  that  it  was  not  likely  to  be  of 
Norse  or  Icelandic  origin.  It  could  not 
be  derived  from  the  Norse  hiia,  to  dwell, 
part,  b^andi  boandi  dwelling,  nor  even 
from  the  cognate  A.-Sax.  b^an  to  dwell, 
because  the  ii  and  6  are  long  in  the 
Norse  hii&  to  dwell,  btiandi,  bdandi 
dwelling,  and  the  A.'Sax.  hium  to  dwdl, 
blende  dwelling,  buend,  buenda  a 
dwdUr,  while  the  u  and  o  are  always 
short  in  bunda  and  bonda.  So  in  other 
compounds  from  bindan  to  bind,  as 
bundo-land  bond  or  leased  land,  land  let 
on  binding  conditions.  Bunda  then  is 
a  pure  Anglo-Saxon  word,  derived  from 
bindan  to  bind.  Buan  to  dwell,  with  the 
part,  biiende  dwelling,  and  the  noun 
buend,  es  ;  m.  a  dueller,  is  quite  a  dis- 
tinct word.  •  Buend  has  its  own  numer- 
ous compounds ;  as, — Land-biiend  a  land 
dweller,  a  farmer ',  agricola.  An-buend 
one  dwelling  alone,  a  hervdt ;  ceaster-, 
eg-,  eorp-,  feor-,  fold-,  grund-,  her-,  ig-, 
land-,  neah-,  sund-,  woruld-  and  J>e6d- 
biiend." 

*  Ethelred,  son  of  Etlgar,  succeeded  to 
the  throne,  on  the  murder  of  his  brother 
Edward,  in  the  year  978,  and  died  in 
1016. — Thorpe's  note  in  Laws  and  Insf. 
of  England,  vol.  i.  p.  280. 


■  To  a  BubetantiTC,  not  a  verb  or  participle.— F, 

c2 


izz-:  v5  -  i»:'M5Ll>. 


'  iL-.:tr   i>:   :i  N:t.  I^SS    -ha-n  ?•>  if-iri,  for  the  j>iy>- 


■   ...a 


LXXIII.  Ai'i  ^tr  ?*  :•  .i:  sat:  ^irwrd  ^  Tintwrafod,  sitte  f  wif  3 
fi  cild  oii  ^-ar.  vicar,  m: c*sactn.  Aid  ci^  «t  •-■Ti.ii  «r  he  dead  were, 
LefriTj^yi  waervr'  J*:  u^e  aridwvria::  fa  Trfer^TiTiftr.  swa  he  sylf  soeolde 
feikL  Le  lif  Ljtf ie. 


Ai-d  where  tLe  7.  .^^-iTi-i dwelt  wiihoTii  claim  or  contest,  let  the  wife 
ar.d  the  children  dwell  in  the  same,  unassailed  hr  litisation.  And 
if  the  hn-faand.  before  be  was  dead,  had  been  dted,  then  let  the  heirs 
answer,  aA  himself  shonld  have  done  if  be  bad  lived. 

So  the  Laws  of  King  Henry  the  First  (who  reigned  1 100-35 
A.D.^y  repeating  the  last  provision,  sav : 

§  o  £t  abi  bunda  manserit  sine  calompnia,  idnt  uxor  et  poeri  in 
codem,  sine  qaerela  Ac. — Ancient  Z>.iir#,  i.  526. 

In  1048  A.D.  the  Saxon  Chronicle  uses  bunda  for  a  house- 
holding  cultivator  or  farmer: 

Da  he  [Enstatins]  wses  some  mila  o59e  mare  heheonan  Do&an  . 
l^a  dyde  he  on  bis  byman  .  and  his  ge-feran  ealle  .  and  foran  to 
Dofran  .  fa  hi  f ider  comon  .  fa  woldon  hi  innian  hi  fser  heom  8j1£udl 
gelicodo  .  fa  com  an  bis  manna  .  and  wolde  widan  set  anes  Imndan}, 
hum;,  his  unfianccs  .  and  gewnndode  fone  husbundon  .  and  se  Aim* 
hnrida  ^  ofsloh  fone  oSeme.  Da  weard  Enstatita  nppon  his  horse  . 
and  bis  gc-fcoran  nppon  heora  .  and  ferdon  to  fan  husbundon  .  and 
ofslogrm  bine  binnan  bis  agenan  beorSaB  .  and  wendon  him  fa  up  to 
f  H)re  bnrge-wcard  .  and  ofslogon  ssg^er  ge  wiCiiman  ge  wi5utan  .  ma 
faiino  XX  manna. — Saxon  Chr(micl€,  ed.  Earle,  p.  177  (a.d.  1048.) 

When  ho  [Eustatbins]  was  some  miles  or  more  beyond  Dover, 
then  pnt  bo  on  bis  armour,  and  all  bis  companions  (did  likewise), 
and  wont  to  Dover.  Wlion  they  came  thither,  then  would  thejf 
lodge  wliere  they  pleased.  Then  came  one  of  bis  men,  and  would 
dwcill  at  tho  bouso  of  a  cultivator  (or  honsebolder)  against  his  will, 
and  wounded  tho  cultivator;  and  the  cultivator  slew  the  other. 
ThoTi  Eustatbius  got  upon  bis  horse,  and  bis  companions  on  theirs, 
and  wont  to  Uie  cultivator,  and  slew  him  within  bis  own  hearth ;  and 

'  Imndan,  pen,  ting,  good  man  ^  1048.  plode  the '' moral-etrmology  "  of  a  Aicf- 

(ihtMarial  ImlfX.  band  being  so  called  because  he  is  the 

'  Tho  ef|uivalonco  of  the  htubunda  band  or  binder- together  of  the  honse^ 

with  tho  bunda  hen*  is  enough  to  ox-  even  if  Dr.  Bosworth  be  right. 


ON    "BONDMAN,"  XXXvii 

went  then  up  to  the  guard  of  the  city,  and  slew  both  within  and 
without  more  than  20  men. 

In  a  passage  in  Hickes  the  (no  doubt)  free  bunda^  paying  a 
fine^  is  contrasted  with  the  thrcell  who  gets  a  flogging : 

And  p£  hwa  Sis  ne  jebeste .  )>onne  ^ebete  he  f  swa  swa  hit  ^elajod 
is .  bunda  mid  xzz  pen.  Srcel  mid  his  hyde .  pejp.  mid  xzx  scill. — From 
Hickes*8  DissertaHo  Epistolaris,  p.  108. 

And  if  any  one  does  not  perform  this,  then  let  him  make  amends 
for  that  as  is  laid-down-by-law :  the  honde  with  xzx  pence,  the  thrall 
with  his  hide,  the  thane  ¥rith  xzx  shillings. 


Thus  fer  then  the  evidence — for  I  do  not  admit  Bos  worth's 
<<  one  bound  "  as  rights-points  to  the  bonde  being  a  freeman, 
and  if  not  a  landed  proprietor,  still  a  free  tenant.  The  evidence 
of  the  freedom  is  strengthened  if  we  may  regard  the  Danish- 
named  bonde  as  a  Saxon-named  churl — the  name  of  one 
seeming  to  be  used  for  the  other,  as  Mr.  Thorpe  observes,  for 
the  ceorla  was  a  free  man,  the  **  ordinary  freeman  "  of  Anglo- 
Saxon  society,  though  obliged  by  **the  feudal  system"  which 
•*  may  be  traced  throughout  all  Anglo-Saxon  history,  to  provide 
himself  with  a  lord,  that  he  might  be  amenable  to  justice  when 
called  upon.**  ^  Still,  this  vassalage  was  no  bondage  in  the  later  or 
the  modem  sense  of  the  term ;  the  vassal  churl  was  a  freeman 
still,  if  we  may  trust  Heywood. 

In  Alfred's  time,  and  later,  the  ceorl  had  slaves.  Sec  25  of 
Alfred's  Laws  (translated)  is : 

If  a  man  commit  a  rape  upon  a  ceorVs  female  slave  (mennen),  let 
him  make  hot  (amends)  to  the  ceorl  with  5  shillings,  and  let  the 
v:ite  (fine)  be  60  shillings.     Anc.  Laivf^,  i.  79. 

The  A.-S.  laws  of  Eanks  enact  that, 

if  a  ceorl  thrived,  so  that  he  had  fully  five  bides  of  hia  own  land, 
church  and  kitchen,  bell-house,  and  *'  bnrh* '-gate-seat,  and  special 
duty  in  the  king's  hall,  then  was  he  thenceforth  of  thane-right 
worthy. — Anc,  LatcSj  i.  191. 

Thorpe  defines  ceorl  thus : 

Ceorl.  O.H.G.  charal.  A  freeman  of  ignoble  rank,  a  churl,  twy- 
hinde  man,  villanus,  illiberalis. 

Ttcyhynde  (Man),  a  man  whose  ^  wer-gild*  was  200  shillings. 
This  was  the  lowest  class  of  Anglo-Saxon  aristocracy.     Twelf-hynde 

*  Hey  wood's  Distinctiofis  in  Society,  1818,  p.  325. 


XXlCViii  05   •'BOSDMAS." 

(}fan),  a  man  whose  ir^r-^kld  was  12»»  shillings.     This  was  the. 
highest  class  of  Anglv Saxon  aristocracy. 

The  slave  was  a  ^rcd  or  ^eoic.  Mr.  Thorpe  ooDJsiders  )?rcel 
to  Ije  a  Scandinavian  word. 

Next  comes  the  question,  did  these  bondes  or  ceorls  continue 
free  till  the  time  of  the  Conquest  ?     Kemble  says  not : 

*  Finally,  the  nobles-by-birth  themselves  became  absorbed  in  the 
ever- widening  whirlpool :  day  by  day  the  freemen,  deprived  of  their 
old  national  defences,  wringing  with  difficulty  a  precarious  sab- 
sifltencc  from  incessant  labour,  sullenly  yielded  to  a  yoke  which  they 
crjuld  not  shake  off,  and  commended  themselves  (such  was  the 
jihrafie)  to  the  protection  of  a  lord  ;  till  a  complete  change  having 
thus  been  operated  in  the  opinions  of  men,  and  consequently  in 
every  relation  of  society,  a  new  order  of  things  was  consummated, 
in  which  the  honours  and  security  of  service  became  more  anxiously 
desired  than  a  needy  and  unsafe  freedom ;  and  the  alods  being 
finall V  surrendered,  to  be  taken  back  as  lenejicia,  under  mediate  lords, 
the  foundations  of  the  royal,  feudal  system  were  securely  laid  on 
every  side. — Kemble,  The  Saxotis  in  EnglanJ^  vol.  i.  p.  184. 

The  very  curious  and  instructive  dialogue  of  ^Ifric  numbers 
among  the  serfs  the  ijr^Uug  or  ploughman,^  whose  occupation  the 
author  nevertheless  places  at  the  head  of  all  the  crafts,  with  per- 
haps a  partial  exception  in  favour  of  the  smith's. — Ibid.  p.  216. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Pearson  also  says  not : 

Not  only  were  slaves  increasing,  but  freemen  were  disappearing. 
Tlie  ceorl  is  never  mentioned  in  our  laws  after  Edward  the  elder's 
time.  If  he  became  the  villan  of  a  later  period,  he  was  already 
semi-servile  before  the  Norman  conquest.  If  he  passed  into  the 
freeman,'  sometimes  holding  in  his  own  right,  and  sometimes  under 
a  lord's  protection,  the  class  did  not  number  5  per  cent,  of  the 
po])ulation  at  the  time  when  Domesday  was  compiled,  was  virtually 
Cimfiiicd  to  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  and  had  not  even  a  representative 
in  the  counties  south  of  the  Thames.  It  is  evident  that  the  bulk  of 
the  Saxon  pcoj)lo  was  in  no  proper  sense,  and  at  no  time  free.  Even 
the  free  in  name  were  virtually  bound  down  to  the  soil  with  the 
]M)ssesHion  of  which  their  rights  were  connected,  and  from  which 
their  subsistence  was  derived  ;  .  .  .  the  idea  that  any  man  might  go 
where  he  would,  live  as  ho  liked,  think  or  express  his  thoughts 
frt^ely,  would  have  been  repugnant  to  the  whole  tenour  of  a  con- 
stitution which  started  from  the  Old  Testament  as  a  model,  pre- 
served or  incorj)orated  the  traditions  of  Roman  law,  and  regarded 
the  regulation  of  life  as  the  duty  of  the  legislator. 

*  Thi»  hIiouIU  be  compared  with  the  »  Had  ho  not  always  been  free? 
Hucoud  cxtnict  from  llavdok  below. 


OS  **moisanujL 


The  mention  of  riUan  brings  as  to  the  Conqnest '  and  to  Dome^- 
daT-Look*  On  erery  page  <^the  Utter  tilUini  are  mentioned, 
and  tbe  articles  of  enquiry  for  tbe  composition  of  it  show  that 
the  efkquiry  into  tbe  population  and  property  of  each  district 
**  vas  conducted  by  the  kingfs  barons,  upon  the  oaths  of  tbe 
■h«^ff  of  each  county,  and  all  tbe  barons,  and  their  French-bom 
TawaU,  and  ot  the  hundredary  (reere  of  the  hundred),  priest, 
rtevard,  and  #ix  vilUins  of  every  fi//,"  ic  (Heywood,  p.  290, 
n<ite).  The  question  for  us  is,  are  we  to  take  as  free  men  or  not 
these  TiUans,  who  were  to  help  in  settling  what  **  served  for  cen- 
turies as  the  basis  of  all  taxation,  and  the  authority  by  which  all 
di^tputes  about  landed  tenures  and  customs  were  decided^^  who 
vtTe  to  state  **'  on  oath  what  amount  of  land  there  was  in  tbe 
di^rict,  whether  it  was  wood,  meadow,  or  pasture,  what  was  its 
value,  what  serrices  were  due  from  its  owners ;  and  generally  the 
nambers  of  frte  and  bond  on  the  estate  ^  (Pearaon^  i.  374). 

The  arguments  of  Serjeaut  Heywood  for  the  identity  *  of  tbe 
rilUin  with  the  ceorl  or  iwihyndt  man  seem  to  me  very  strong 
t&l«^ :  and  Mr.  Pearson  tells  me  that  in  the  earlier  use  of  the 
M.,vl  tiUanuSf  the  first  which  he  knows, — namely,  that  in  the 
preamble  to  tbe  Decree  of  the  Bishops  and  Witan  of  Kent 
atjr^it  keeping  the  peace  under  Athelstan,  which  speaks  of 
rLiiMi,  Ct/mi/es,  ei  ViUaniy — he  thinks  that  '*  villan  "  means 
*•  cfrf^ri  *"  very  literally. 

S-ri«-ant  Heywrxxl  first  shows  that  the  Texius  RojTensis^  in 
f  IT.  •liirj;^  a  pfi.-i>agi»  from  the  Jiulida  Civitatls  LumltniiaWkv 
T*  it    ♦i'j-.t»ii   aUjve  from  the   Anglo-Saxon    Laws'*   "makes   it 


rank"*  of  K<>cl«'ty  r.m  fn'omcn,  scx-men, 
ari<l  [•♦ThajiJ*  in  some  qhsch  iMinlar?*  nn-l 
r«»ttar»».  It  must  Ix^  r«•mcmlK•^^l  that 
th«'  fi'-f'dfiuiin^jt  Sin*/nIorum  Prr-tonii- 
ri'//i  u«i««  till*  word  viluinuj*  to  tnin»«!atp 
th«'  Sa\Mn  «j'n*(i\  un«l  that  tho  wi>r«l 
r*ri,i  ihH-f%  not  ivour  in  th<*  whoh*  «i«>*Mi- 
lilt  r.t." 

•  Ivo  jr«*nti>*  »t  lejri.H  honoHhus.  I'uit 
«jM'.n«l;inj  in  l»irihu!«  Anjjlonnu  m  ^ihn 
ft  I.  X  |in>  honi>nhu<»,  «'t  ihi  inint  haji* 
ciitrH  |-»j>uli  h'in<»r«'  tlijjrni,  «juihlK't  ynt 
•*tia  nii'-n*' .  riin)««.  ct  nJnnuj^,  tlianu'*  •  t 
ru-'liiMiM    (#"/*/     auti    i'kh^,    th'tfiH     iiti't 

Kt  '•i  i*<>h»nviH  tanii-n  «il.  tjui  lial  •  if 
iri'^-tTJi*  «juin«ji»o  hyda"  i«Tri-.  invh-Mun 
♦  I  culiuiiiu,  turrim  hu<'mui  K}t,Xl  hu.-\  it 


'.  --^  '.v  "^x  -zi*  w.  n-  m.'iny  wonl-* 
■v^  —  J.'  T»  ',f  J-  •>..•■.•  ^ri;5.u«-<i  in  hn**- 
*j  'T  ««  -...r'..  «--,rl.*r  tin  n.  j:rn«*HT«», 
•  *:.  .Ji:»:»r.»-.  A:«"  .  hut  th»  j'n»- 
;•»•  •••*••  .»'•'  Si  i'T  A  ^i!l.in  hiiH  i:«>t 
•— -      fc..-r».i.'.*»i    —  Pj-     lf*«»    I.       Hut 

*-  •    i  r  i»^  n  •  •.•  •  »•   iii'.*t  •'  nil  !•  r- 

•  .         -    •  "      •  *,     r»  •*^r\  if  I"!!  'liaf  mhiU 

..•'    ■    V      r  'y  <t{  •?•.»   «««iirl  r!n**  ha«l 

,     ^»      •r,*-    j«»:i'.n  of   ▼illann, 

-•  »'••    ■'.,•'. nifUt* A  m  tbr  diffirxnt 


Xl  ON   **BOSDMAX." 

relate  to  Tillan  and  not  to  ceorls  (L.  colonic  whence  we  may  infer 
that  the  author  considered  them  as  the  same  persons  ^  {Diswr^ 
tation,  p.  185).  He  next  shows  that  the  eighth  law  of  William 
the  Conqueror,  which  makes  the  were  of  a  villan  only  100 
shillings,  was  probably  wrongly  transcribed ;  and  that  the  seven- 
tieth law  of  Henry  I.  expressly  defines  the  free  twihind  as  a 
villan : — '*  the  were  of  a  twihind,  that  is,  a  villan,  is  five  pounds: 
twyhindiy  i,  viUani,  wera  eat  IV  lih^;^ — and  the  76th  law 
classes  the  twihinds  among  the  free  men.     Also  that 

in  other  parts  of  the  laws,  villans  are  ranked  with  ceorls  and  twihinds. 
Moreover  the  weres  of  a  cyrlisc  man  &  [that  is,  or]  a  villan  are  ex- 
pressly mentioned,  and  reqnired  to  be  regulated  in  the  same  manner 
as  that  of  a  twelfhind.* — Hey  wood,  p.  295. 

Another  proof  may  be  adduced  from  their  being  liable  to  the  pay- 
ment of  reliefs  which  never  were  called  for  from  the  servile  clasis. 
When,  therefore,  provision  was  made  in  the  laws  of  William  the 
Conqueror  for  the  exaction  of  a  relief  from  every  villan,  of  his  best 
beast,  whether  a  horse,  an  ox,  or  a  cow,  we  must  conclude  that,  at 
the  time  of  compiling  those  laws,  namely,  about  four  years  after  the 
Conquest,  a  villan  was  a  freeman, 

and  this  notwithstanding  the  concluding  words  of  the  law,  et 
poatea  si/nt  omnea  villani  in  franco  plegio^  which  must  be 
taken  as  confirming  an  old  truth,  for  the  payment  of  one  relief 
— which  villans  before  the  Conquest  had  paid — could  not  have 
turned  an  unfree  man  into  a  free  one.     Serjeant  Hey  wood  adds : 

Another  powerful  argument  in  favor  of  the  supposition  that  villans 
ranked  among  freemen,  arises  from  the  consideration  that,  unless 
this  had  been  the  case,  the  bulk  of  the  population  of  England  must 
have  been  found  in  the  servile  class.  We  cannot  imagine  that  the 
farmers,  who  held  at  the  pa3rment  of  rent,  either  in  money  or  kind, 
could  bo  so  very  numerous  as  to  furnish  victuals  for  the  armies  which 
were  collected,  provide  members  for  all  the  tythings,  and  crowd  the 
public  assemblies  which  were  held  for  judicial  purposes.  But  upon 
the  demesne  lands  of  almost  every  lord,  villans  might  be  found,  and  if 
they  were  admitted  to  bear  the  name,  and  partake  of  the  privileges 
of  freemen,  and  rank  with  ceorls  or  twihinds,  the  difficulty  vanishes 
(p.  300). 

atrii  pcdem  {hurhgmt  sell)  ac  officium  habere  quinque  hidas  de  suo  proprio 

distinctum  {sunder  note)  in  aula  regis,  allodii  &c.  ih.  p.  185. 
ille  tunc  in   postemm   sit  jure  thani  '  Eodem  modo  per  omnia  d€  cyHiad 

(thtgen   rihtas)  dignus. — Hiyvpood,    p.  vel  villani  wera  fieri  debet  secnndiiin 

184.     Dsxi.  Roff.  46  has  for  cclonus  of  modum  suum,  sicut  de  duodecies  cen* 

the  aboTe,  viUanta.    *'  £t  si  fnUanus  ita  teno  diximus. — LI.  Ben.  i.  76 ;  WUkins, 

crerisset  sua  probitate,  quod  pleniter  270,  in  Heyvjoodf  p.  295  n. 


mo  looks  on  tho  rilluu  m  '  hood  upoo    bond 

/ aid  *B  to  tbf!  nambav  nf  tbem  aad  thf  frremen  nod  the 

n  Mwimiljr  «t  Domnday,  gires  Sir  Hcoiy  Ellis's  and 

•  JtMialocb's  mlcalAtiuos  u  foUuwR : 

J  prohiblj  plan  it  ^(hc  {vipolatioa]  Bt  rsiher  ovrr  Umd 

0,WO :  k  nanbrr  wbtcli  nx^  trrm  mutll,  liut  which  mu  not 

■  im  iKe  T«i)rn  of  Cbarkiii  II.,  nz  hnndrrd  ^can  l*t«r.     Bts 

D  tha  Mtnl  ntmj,  wc   ftnd  nbont  two  thonMod  perKwu 

i— lilMil/qfthe  king  (B  1400,  U  1S&9),  orwhowero 

I  to  tfaa  Idag"*  pnoQ  (U  ^tt),  or  who  btd  no  bddinj;,  bat 

"^  -  c  H  tlwjr  wouU  (U  213).     The  »ooad  daM.  Ihn 

id,  ooonnMd  nore  tlian  JKI.OOO  ;  nndcr-tenanta  or 

S7171,  H  S8»)i  bar^wra  (S  7968,  H  I7.1i>fi):  soe-mMi 

,  11  89^404):   memaii,  liOHitiff  bf  mitilar;  M.>rvic«,  or 

-a  dwrwlut)  into  iriianu  to  obtain  fir«t*iction  (E  14,284)  ; 

1'ho  Ur^t  ctnu  nf  all  wm  the 

,   (><  -  Mir,  M  liri,7(>4),  luid  bonli»™.' 

■  (B--  ikc  Dp  Iho  mow,  ahimi  ^W.IKM) 
<•  ^hmj  yn:.    .-  ....    ..,-  ..  ..  ...I-Iand.  that  ta  tii  Mtir.  tbcir  land 

a  naiaai  tnltuLi:  lu  iLi  uwuiir,  kdiI  Uuij  owhI  o-rliuu  Horrioca 

Vto  tba  laad  ;  tber  nralJ  nut  ignit  it  wiihunt    [wrnuHsiou  from   their 
'     *      Bst  Ihey  wiBPc  ui>t  bu-tv  prupertv;  tlu'v  could  iiol  be  sold  off 
'^      '  '  e  of  a  lUSelviiL  kiuil,  like  Uu^  fi-w  nlavt^a  who  still 

i  who  nnmbcted  niO(?lilv  alwnt  25,000, 
r  of  tbii  miildle  cliiisw,  a&d  tlic  Hniall  uombi'r  of 
•  in  this  utiriiiLlr  (lull  ilir-irve  roDoidvmliou.      It  is 
!ii!w  rufioi^iiiciiit  in  iwr- 
iiiL  data,  all  HtatPiiumts 
1  clitDtiiclurs  anil  laws, 
'III  ihci  aiiarcliy  aud  war 
:iiiil>'i  lis  natm-  kiii|{«  iiiiluou  a 
I)  all  claam;".  i<io-pt  tho  highest, 
o  nambrr  iif  t'rwtiiicii  pnsitivuly 
1  tJM  fihangT  maj  pnilsibif  \x  awrilNKt  to  the  Kr»iriii|{ 

■  witb  Flaodsrs,  as  wv  flrnl  ■bvi.'p  mattiplyitiK  »»  tKu  tcnal 
■I  w\l\\  tlii  iiliiiuii  fi  mil  arablr  tojABtun'-lnod  fewor  lul>otirv 

B  b  rwfiilwd-     Tm  fact  that  tbo  larirr  anil  privili-ttMl  rlaas  of 

1j  nninanNu  in  twooounlivii,  Norfolk  and  Suffolk, 

I  iwnilt   hskd  been  pililusalj  put  down,  scwms  to 

^  rifrbia  wm  not  U)()itlv  tamwrod  with.     In  Bcd- 

r,   Ike  aoc-BMRi  wm  dcgnulpd  to  irrfii,   pmfaalily 

■  jif^ing  of  its  Angimnc  ilirriff,  Raool  Tuillobois, 

atj  »ccowlingl5  fell  off  io  rental   fauyond  aiiy  otlutr  in 


^it Ina eonqasal  dii 

L  !■  B  matter  wh>  r 

pi  ik»  amooMt  was  a  Rain 
■  •rfft^Ma.    I 


zlii 


ON  "bondman. 


»? 


Engl  and  south  of  Humber,  though  it  had  enjoyed  a  singolar  ex- 
emption from  all  the  ravages  of  war. 

The  concludiDg  paragraph  of  the  foregoing  extract  is  printed 
Lecause  in  it  is,  forme,  pointed  out  the  true  cause  of  the  villan's 
hardships,  of  the  exactions  of  which  his  class  bo  bitterly  com- 
plained, the  character  of  the  Norman  baron,  and  his  power  over 
his  dependants.  The  thirtieth  law  of  Henry  I.  speaks  in  mode- 
rated phrase  the  spirit  of  the  earlier  time.  It  calls  the  villans 
with  the  cocseti  and  pardingi  (probably  bondmen  inferior  to 
the  villans)  hvjuamodi  viles  vel  inopes  peraonce,  declares  them 
disqualified  to  be  reckoned  among  judges,  excludes  them  from 
bringing  any  civil  suits  in  the  county  or  hundred  courts,  and 
refers  them,  for  the  redress  of  injuries,  to  the  courts  of  their 
own  barons  (Heywood,  p.  291).^ 

And  it  is  (I  believe)  precisely  because  Edward  I.  made  a 
resolute  attempt  to  break  down  this  power  of  the  barons  over 
their  villans,^  which  must  have  often  been  awfully  abused, — and 
not  only  tried  to,  but  did  to  some  extent  substitute  his  own 
judges'  court  for  the  barons'  one' — thereby  rescuing  many  a 
villan  from  a  bondman's  fate ;  it  is  for  this  reason  that  he  is 
the*  hero  of  our  ballad  of  John  de  Reeve.  Not  only  for  the 
long  shanks  with  which  he  strode  against  Wales,  or  the  hammer 
he  wielded  against  Scotland,  was  the  first  king  who  conceived 
and  fought  for  the  unity  of  Great  Britain  dear  to  the  villans  of 


'  Villapi  yero,  vel  cocseti  vel  pardingi 
Tel  qui  sunt  hujusmodi  viles  vet  inopes 
peraonse,  non  sunt  inter  logiim  judices 
Dumerandi,  tinde  nee  in  hundrodo  vel 
ccmitutu  pecuniam  suam,  toI  domino- 
rum  Buorum  foribfaciunt,  si  justitiam 
sine  judicio  dimittant,  sed  summonitis 
terrarum  dominis  inforciotur  placitum 
term i no  competent  i,  b!  fuerint  vel  non 
fuerint  antea  summoniti  cum  secuti  jus 
spatimatis. — IJ,  Hen.  i.  c.  30;  WUkinSy  248, 
in  Heywood,  p.  292. 

■  One  of  the  first  Acts  of  his  (Edward 
I.'b)  AdminiBtration,  after  his  Arrival 
from  the  Holy  Land,  was  to  inquire  into 
the  State  of  the  Demesnes,  and  of  the 
Rights  and  Ilevonues  of  the  Crown,  and 
concerning  the  Conduct  of  tlio  .Sheriffs 
and  other  Officers  and  Ministers,  who 
bad  defrauded  the  King  and  grievously 
oppressed  the  People  (Annals  of  Waver- 
ley,  235)  Hundred  RoUe,  i.  10.    On  the 


inquiries  of  this  Commission  the  first 
chapter  of  the  Statute  of  Olouoester, 
relating  to  Liberties,  Franchises  andQao 
Warranto  ^by  what  warrant  the  Partict 
hold  or  claimed)  was  founded  (f6.). 

'  See  below,  and  also  the  Statute  of 
4  £dw.  I.  .A  Statute  concerning  Jus- 
tices being  assigned,  called  Rageman. 
"  It  is  accorded  by  our  Lord  the  King, 
and  by  his  Council,  that  Justices  MUX 
go  throughout  the  Land  to  inquire,  hear, 
and  determine  all  the  Complaints  and 
Suits  for  Trespasses  committed  within 
these  twenty-five  years  past,  before  the 
Feast  of  Saint  Michael,  in  the  fooith 
year  of  King  Edward  ;  as  well  by  the 
King's  Bailiffs  &  Officers  as  by  other 
Bailifis,  &  by  all  other  Persons  whom- 
soever. And  this  is  to  bo  understood 
as  well  of  outrageous  Takings,  and  all 
Manner  of  Trespasses,  Quarrels,  and 
Offences  done  unto  the  King  and  otherB, 


M 


ON   **  BONDMAN. 


w 


xliii 


hU  own  '  and  after  times.  His  steps  and  his  blo?^  came  nearer 
tbeir  homes,  and  did  something  to  clear  oppressors  out  of  their 
path,  ^lien  in  easier  days  thej  could  sing  of  olden  time,  thej 
gmTe  the  long  king  a  merry  night  with  three  of  their  kin,  and 
remembered  with  gratitude  England's  ^'  first  thoroughly  consti* 
tutional  **  sovereign.  This  I  gather  from  one  of  a  series  of 
interesting  articles  on  the  **  Rights,  Disabtlities,  and  Wages  of 
the  Engiifth  Peasantry"'  in  the  new  Series K>f  the  Law  Magd- 
zifu  and  Review,     But  I  am  anticipating. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  I.  bondage  was  looked  upon  as  no  part  of 
the  cnmmon  law ;  it  existed  br  Bufieranoe  and  by  local  usage,  and 
wttA  reeoiraised,  bat  only  barely  tolerated  by  the  law.  The  law  was 
oD  the  side  of  freedom.  A  leaper  or  land-loper,  as  a  fugitive  was 
raJkd,  ooold  rarely  be  recover^  in  a  summary  manner ;  if  he  chose 
to  dpny  his  bondage,  the  writ  of  niefty  did  not  ^ve  the  Sheriff  autho- 
rity to  «eixe  him ;  the  question  of  his  condition  had  to  stand  over  until 
thr  Airtixes,  or  had  to  be  argued  in  the  Ck)urt  of  Common  Pleas. — 
U^  M'vj.  1862,  Tol.  xiii,  p.  38-9. 

We  Deed  not  attribute  a  long  range  of  foresight,  or  very  cnlight- 
enrd  riewB  of  freedom,  to  the  counsellors  of  Edward  I.  Their  re- 
fwcanoe  to  Tillenage  wm  instinctive  rather  than  deliberate.  Yillen- 
%ffft  in  their  eyes  appeared  to  be  a  consequence  of  those  powers  of 
l>icml  jurisdiction  which  had  been  indispensable  in  former  times  on 
umcnt  of  the  weakness  of  the  centnJ  power,  but  were  no  longer 
vmnted  Anoe  the  central  power  had  become  truly  imperial.  The 
i^amt-  UndkirdA  who  claimed  a  right  to  keep  their  dependents  in 
r. ••.LkiT**.  n^mAlly  cljiime<l  some  de^n'ee  of  judicial  power;  they 
f\x>.:ii*-^i  to  liavf  a  in<>re  or  less  extensive  co^izance  over  crimt's 
'  -'iniiTt*'*],  and  c*riiiiiimls  arreste<i  within  their  precincts.  Such  a 
«  ^izi  o>uld  tni\y  rest   up<m  prescri]>tion  ;  any  such  pretension  not 


•  -i*^!  :a  *)\t  Ir»'^«i»-»ti*  h^-r.-tofor*' fmnd 
'  *•-'  K  u^  •«>mm-»ri'!.  Ji«»'»f  Tr***pii«i.«*«*H 
•  --.r^.  "r-i  .:3  --     An-i  !h«'  Kin;^  willr»th, 

•  -     ;    r    It*  I  •  I     /  th<r    I*r-<«]»1»-  iff  Air  If 
'    -  «  •  •^^  i  I  p^i^'  \  •O'i  *|Mf«ly  rxtH-u- 

•  -.    ..f    J  .•*■»  «     That    th*'  I'onipbiint.-* 
.    ,.m^  ,»^   \^  h«  4r»i  U-f'.r*»  th»  afMrt»- 

'A  -  '  ».•  w  "•.s-*A.  ».'.'»rlinir  t<)  thr  Arti- 
'.-.  .  T--?>«1  ar.*'»  tlj.  ftam*«  Jii^tio«*% ; 
t  .-.  •  •  r  V  ifivlrm!'^"!  .14  mtll  within 
;-fc  ■:..«-•  ^«  w.'no'i!.  AI«k)  the  Kiin; 
»  ♦* :i  •.j',kX  ti**"  •t'^m*'  Jii*»itV*  di»  \\K'.\r 
t .:  .'•-m.T^  !h*  <.'««mrlAiut«  <»f  th'»%r 
»  w  .  '-•'•siinaiii  'ff  M-attrr^t  <!on»«  Itv 
»-, .  *.»  tu:r%r%  i  'ih**  K in*j'i»  St^t u'ih. 
M  ». '  (  wi-iAl  f«,or»-m#'th  th'»  Km;:  jv* 
*>.  ym^  *,.*  '     .•%?».  aisM  the  Sutute«i  of 


(flouco»itcr    or     Qxu)     Warranto    of     G 
Blw.  I. 

*•  Aii'l  thf  ShcriffK  shall  cause  it  to  !•»» 
romiiionly  |»ro»'laiin«l  throughout  tlirir 
ll.iilliwirk.**,  that  iii  to  »;iy,  in  C'llios, 
li"r<»u:^h'»,  M.'irkt'l  towns,  and  «l>*i»- 
vrh«T»-,  that  all  th<>M«^  who  claim  to  havo 
any  Fmnchi'^es,  by  thi-  Chart «n*  of  tho 
Kini;'»  Pn-^hivi^HoP*.  KiniTM  of  Kn;rlan'l. 
or  in  oth»'r  mann»'r.  nhall  corno  U!"<»r>* 
th«*  Kinji,  or  b«'for»'  tlw  JusticfH  in 
Kyp\  at  .1  crrtain  <l.iy  an«l  |»l.ic«',  to  kIiow 
whiit  f»>rt  of  Kr.m.liiHi'  tlu-y  claim  to 
hav.'.  an-l  hy  what  Warrant." 

'  1  (io  not  for>;.'  th«'  irrosmM  of  •'  Tho 
S  »nix  of  th*"  IIuj»l'.iti<lm.in  "  (trmp. 
Kiw.  I.)  prinlM  in  Wri^rht"-*  I*J:fur.' 
is^H'j.1  fur  the  Cam  l«n  .S>ci  ly. 


xliv 


05 


sapported  br  immemorial  usage  wcnld  soon  be  npset  by  the  Kiiig*8 
attomer.  The  general  Government  struggled  bard  to  extend  its 
jurisdiction,  to  extinguish  the  private  courts,  to  bring  as  manj  cases 
as  possible  before  the  Courts  at  Westminster,  and  before  the  JtisiiceB 
in  Eyre.  The  private  courts  were  not  abolished,  bat  gradtudlj 
superseded.  After  all  that  the  lords  could  do  to  keep  their  villeins 
from  Assizes,  villeins  constantly  became  jurors,  and  bond-lands  were 
constantly  drawn  into  the  King's  Courts,  and  were  thus  in  the  way 
to  be  drawn  into  freeholds.  Perhaps  every  circuit  of  the  judges 
emancipated  a  number  of  bondmen. — Ih.  p.  4C*. 

In  seeking  for  the  light  in  which  the  Norman  baron  would 
regard  his  Saxon  villans,  I  think  that  Mr.  Thomas  Wright  ^  is 
justified  in  his  adduction  of  the  following  instances. 

The  chronicler  Benoit  (as  well  as  his  rival  Wace)  extols  Duke 
Eichard  II.  for  the  hatred  which  he  bore  towards  the  agricultural 
or  servile  class  :  **  he  would  suffer  none  but  knights  to  have  employ- 
ment in  his  house ;  never  was  a  villan  or  one  of  rustic  blood  ad- 
mitted into  his  intimacy ;  for  the  villan,  forsooth,  is  always  han- 
kering after  the  filth  in  which  he  was  bred." — p.  237, 


]>e  ]>ridde  cumeS  efter,  &  is 
wurst  fikelare,  ase  ich  er  seide  : 
vor  he  preiseS  )>ene  vuele,  A 
his  vuele  deden,  ase  pe  l>e  sei6  to 
fe  knihte  pet  robbetJ  his  poure 
men,  "  A,  sire !  hwat  tu  dest 
wel.  Uor  euere  me  schal  fene 
cheorl  pilken  &  peolien :  uor 
he  is  ase  pe  wifSi,  ])et  sprutteS 
ut  pe  betere  pcet  me  hine  ofte 
cropped." 


The  third  flatterer  oometh 
after,  and  is  the  worse,  as  I  said 
before,  for  he  praiseth  the  wicked 
and  his  evil  deeds ;  as  he  who 
said  to  the  knight  thai  robbed  his 
poor  vassals^  "  Ah,  sire !  truly 
thou  doest  well.  For  men  ought 
always  to  pluck  a^id  pillage  the 
churl ;  for  he  is  like  the  willow, 
which  sprouteth  out  the  betted 
that  it  is  often  cropped. 


— Ancren  Biwle  (?  ab.  1230  a.d.)  p.  87,  Camden  Soc.  1853  (quoted 
in  part  by  Wright). 

and  in  referring  to  those  most  interesting  Norman-French 
satires  on  the  villans  that  M.  Francisque  Michel  published,  and 
which  contain  such  passages  as  the  following : 

Que  Diex  lor  envoit  grant  meschief, 
Et  mal  au  cuer,  et  mal  au  chief, 
Mai  ka  bouche,  et  pis  ^s  dens, 
Et  mal  deli(»v,  et  mal  dedens    .    .    . 
Et  le  mal  c'on  diet  ne-me-touche, 
Mal  en  orelle,  et  mal  en  bouehe ! 

(Des  XXIII  Manihea  de  VUains,  Paris,  1838,  p.  12.) 


>  Papf r  on  tlie  political  condition  of      Middle  Ages,  in  Archeohgia,  Tol. 
tho    English    Peasantry   during    the      p.  205-44. 


05    ^lOKDMAll.  x\v 

""  Wbj  ilioiild  rfllans  emt  beef;  or  anj  dainty  food  ?  **  inquires  the 
writer  of  Le  Detpii  au  VHaim  ;  *'  thej  ooght  to  eat,  for  their  Sunday 
diet,  nettlea,  reeda,  fanars,  and  straw,  while  pea  shells  are  good 
cnoagh  for  their  erery-daj  food.  .  .  .  Thej  ought  to  go  forth  niS^ed, 
on  bare  feet  in  the  meadows  to  eat  grass  with  the  homed  oxen.  .  .  . 
The  share  of  the  rillan  is  foUj,  and  sottishness  and  filth ;  if  all  the 
K^uds  and  aU  the  gold  of  this  world  were  his,  the  Tillan  wonld  be 
bat  a  rillan  stilL**— fFri^Ai,  p.  238.> 


Tboiigfa  Mr.  Wright's  conclusion  as  to  *'  the  condition  of  the 
E&gitah  peasant  or  villan  during  the  12th,  ISth,  and  I4th  cen- 
tarica  **  may  be  exaggerated,  yet  much  truth  in  it  there  must  be : 

Tied  to  the  groond  on  which  he  was  bom  in  a  state  of  galling 
Hi^iday^,  exposed  to  daily  insult  and  oppression,  he  seryed  a  master 
who  was  a  stranger  to  lum  both  by  blood  and  language.  The  object 
of  his  lord's  extortions,  frequently  plundered  with  impunity,  and 
bcttfily  taxed  by  the  kinff,  he  reoeiyed  in  return  only  an  imperfect 
aod  prvcarioas  security  tor  his  person  or  his  property.  The  yillan 
was  rirtoally  an  outlaw  ;  he  oould  not  legally  inherit  or  hold  "  lord- 
•htp,**  and  he  oould  bring  no  action,  and,  as  it  appears,  giye  no  testi- 
BKny  in  a  court  of  law.  He  was  not  eyen  capable  of  giying  educa- 
tintk  U>  his  children,  or  of  putting  them  to  a  trade,  unless  he  had 
prvTioiuriT  been  able  to  obtain  or  purchase  their  freedom,  which 
depended  on  his  own  pecuniary  means,  and  on  the  will  and  caprice 
of  tht  lofd  of  the  soiL 

All  Xorman  barons  were  not  brutes  of  the  lyo  Taillebois  ' 
trp»-,  hut  I  lofik  on  it  as  certain  that  the  ]»itter  cry  of  the  villaDs 
"■'tj.-h  P-acht^  us  fn)m  the  pages  of  the  old  chroniclers  and 
wht#-r«i  in  Dot  a  mere  bit  of  rhetoric,  but  speaks  what  the  villaiis 
\tA  pi-*r  really  suffered  and  felt. 

I  aU*»  I'M.k  to  the  generations  immediately  succeeding  the 
« ..L'^u»-t  for  the  growth  of  the  legal  view  of  villanage  and  its 
'  '*••-- J I  If  IK* -^  which  is  8tate<l  by  Littleton  (ab.  1480  a.d.)  and 

•  ■■  ^  '^s^  ;-roj»Tt}  D*w<loi  (i*r  »  Nor-  nnd  »«  ihr  Chronicle  drclarva,  **  h** 
?-•  •  t  .La-,  itj  m.»rTT  on.  ••«•  th**  tra**l  tmist*-*!.  rnishtxl.  tortured,  Utrv,  itnpri- 
.'•-  '  '^i»*'aZ<V.,Ar«.'  *.••  I'tllium  (  xiii*  •i«;ole)       «M»n**<l  and  *'irruriat*<d  them."     See  nl.Ho 


i'c- •  i%61.  Il»*nry    of     Haiitini^loii'H    atvount    of 

*   H»  WA#  ^•n^   '(  t!j»-  m^»*t  <Turl  and  Roln-rt  de  I^*le!irnc,  h^irl  of  Shmpwhin*. 

•k'-f..    «-*»-a&irvN    wh  »    f\f'T    «lffdc»-d  **  He  pretVmxl  th«»  »liiu^hter  of  his*  nip- 

*'*:•    r«k,—  ii        }l-    a%wl    l/>    makf   th^  liven  to  their  ran»««>ni.     lie  tore  out  the 


;••  »  *^t  ■:.•  •rrre   hjm  on  'im  a\>-\  kn»-«»,  cyvn  of  his  own  children,  when  in  H}»«»rt 

i.'*^-*.    -.  f*-«^u;lAi  bim^l  th»»ir  l»'iu«M »»,  th«'y  hitl   their   ffU'vn   uutler  hif«   cloak. 

:~  »  .-1  v,-ir  '-•ft>.  ai>l  ♦t   hm  )»ull-  He  im()«ilf«l   j>erH<in«  of  both  sexew    on 

:o  •     'm^Zi'  l»e'u.     With  •IiaUiIk-aI  iiUk»*««.     To   buti'her   men   in   the   most 

'^^  '1  :.'  ru»^\f  t  ..-Ml  m  aj^iMf  uf  work  horrible  manner  waa  to  him  au  agn.t>- 

-.1    »-.,4^a^  \iiM%r  »im^**  aal  lnw*k< ; —  able  fttuL"     {Famir.) 


xlvi  ON  "bondman.' 

Coke,  among  others,  from  Bracton,  Fleta,  &c.  and  which  justi- 
fied any  amount  of  rapacity  and  exaction  on  the  part  of  the 
feudal  superior.  There  were  two  classes  of  villans,  1.  regardanty 
attached  to  the  soil  of  a  manor,  and  sold  with  it  like  a  cowshed 
or  an  ox,  hut  seemingly  not  liable  to  be  removed  from  it,  though 
Littleton's  words  allow  the  removal ;  2.  in  grosSy  landless,  and 
attached  to  the  person  of  a  lord,  and  saleable  or  grantable  to 
another  lord,  like  a  chattel. 

Littleton  translated  (ed.  1813).  §  181.  Also  there  is  a  villein  re- 
gardant, and  a  villein  in  gross.  A  villein  regardant  is,  as  if  a  man 
be  seised  of  a  manor  to  which  a  villein  is  regardant,  and  he  which 
is  seised  of  the  said  manor,  or  they  whose  estate  be  both  in  the 
same  manor,  have  been  seised  of  the  villein  and  of  his  ancestors 
as  villeins  and  neifs  ^  regardant  to  the  same  manor,  time  out  of 
memory  of  man.  And  villein  in  gross  is  where  a  man  is  seised  of 
a  manor,  whereunto  a  villein  is  regardant,  and  granteth  the  same 
villein  by  his  deed  to  another ;  then  he  is  a  villein  in  gross,  and  not 
regardant. 

§  172.  Tenure  in  villenage,  is  most  properly  when  a  villein 
holdeth  of  his  lord,  to  whom  he  is  a  villein,  certain  lands  or  tene- 
ments according  to  the  custom  of  the  manor,  or  otherwise  at  the 
will  of  bis  lord,  and  to  do  his  lord  villein  service,  as  to  carry  and 
recarry  the  dung  of  his  lord  out  of  the  city,  or  out  of  his  lord's 
manor,  unto  the  land  of  his  lord,  and  to  spread  the  same  upon  the 
land,  and  such  like. 

Or  as  Coke  puts  it,  fol.  120  6. 

Ho  is  called  regardant  to  the  mannour,  because  he  had  the 
charge  to  do  all  base  or  villenous  services  within  the  same,  and  to 
gard  and  kcepe  the  same  from  all  filthie  or  loathsome  things  that 
might  annoy  it :  and  his  service  is  not  certaine,  but  he  must  have 
regard  to  that  which  is  commanded  unto  him.  And  therefore  he 
is  called  regardant,  a  quo  prcestandum  servitiv/m  incertum  et  inde" 
terminatum^  uhi  scire  non  jpotuit  vespere  quale  seruitium  fieri  debet 
mane,  viz.  uhi  quis  facer e  tenetur  quicquid  ei  prcecepiuni  fuerU 
(Bract.  H.  2,  fo.  26,  Mir.  ca.  2,  sect.  12)  as  before  hath  beene  ob- 
served (vid.  sect.  84). 

He  says  also  at  fol.  121  6. 

Things  incorporeall  which  lye  in  grant,  as  advowsons,  villeins, 
commons,  and  the  like,  many  be  appendant  to  things  corporeal], 
as  a  mannour,  house,  or  lands. 

As  illustrations  of  the  truth  and  the  working  of  these  l^al 

*  A  woman  which  is  yillein  is  called  a  ne\f,  {  186. 


05   "10501115."  xlTii 

dfictJiDM,  take  the  following  instances  oat  of  many.  About 
itSO  A.n.^  sajB  Mr.  Wright  in  Arckctol.  toL  xxx,  quoting 
Madox*s  Formulare  Anglicanum  318-418, 

The  abbot  and  oooTent  of  Bmeme  sold  *^  Hugh  the  shepherd, 
thrir  naif  or  rillan  of  Certelle,  with  all  his  chitftels  and  all  his 
prv^emT,  f<iT  40.  sterling ;  '*  and  the  abbot  bought  of  Mmtilda,  relict 
Iff  Jijho  the  phjBictan,  for  20#.,  *'*'  Richard,  son  of  WLUiam  dc 
brtende  of  Linhant,  her  rillan,  with  all  his  diattels  and  all  his 
pn^lKviiT :  *'  and  for  half  a  mark  of  silver,  a  yillan  of  Philip  de 
Jfaodrrille  ^  with  all  his  diattels  and  all  his  progeny." 
-  Early  in  Heniy  m.  (1216-72  A.D.  his  reign)  Walter  de  Bean- 
champ  granted  hj  charter  ^*  aO  the  land  which  Ridiard  de  Grafton 
hrid  of  him,  and  Richard  himself,  with  aO  his  offspring."  .  .  In 
1317  Rf^ser  de  Felton  gave  to  Greoffry  Fonne  certain  lands,  tene- 
m^titji  he.  in  the  town  and  territory  of  Glanton,  *'  with  all  his 
nlLuis  in  the  same  town,  and  with  their  chattels  and  offspring." 

We  may  also  note  the  dictum  of  CoweKs  Institutes:  '^  Villaines 
are  not  to  marry  without  consent  of  their  patrons." — IF.  GSs 
tmnMatioii^  1651,  p.  24. 

But  the  sharpest  pinch  of  the  matter  lay  in  the  theory— and 

f practice  often,  I  do  not  doubt — that  all  the  villan's  goods  were  his 
ord^s,*  that  whatever  the  lord  took  from  him,  he  had  no  remedy 
a^nst  the  lord  for. 

^^rt  1^,  fc»l.  123  h.  A1j»o,  cTcry  villein  is  able  and  free  to  sue  all 
r.afcr  r.»  r  «'f  a4'ti«»n.«i  against  everie  jHTson,  except  against  his  lord,  to 
w  L  ni  Lf  i!*  vilU  ine. 

<  ►n  ifchich  Coke  !<\y.s  : 

y>  r  a   villt-iuf  ••lull  not   liave  an  appcale  of  n>l)l)C'rie  against   liis 

;   r-i.  f«  r  '\  :\X  \\v  niav  lawfully  take  the  pMnls  of  the  vilU-ine  as  his 

•  T.  »  1-  K.iw    :?,  \yS ,    11  Hill.  1.   l»:i  ;    1  Hen.   4,  0;  21»  Hen.  ('.,  tit. 

«     "»  f*    17'       An«l   ti.i-n*  is  no  ciiversitii*   hen-in,  whrther   he  Ih»  a 

..•.:.  .-^  u^-^f^ii'iit  Mr  iii  trroivM*,  although  S(»me  have  naid  the  contniry. 

\iA  I*H»k  at  ifchat  earlv  book  yoii  will, —  Homilies,  Politiciil 
>•  r.j^,  KoU  rt  of  Hrtuiiie ',  Chauetr,  (lower,  iVc. — if  it  touches 
•.•'    .^.lj»*<t  at   all,  \ou   are   sure   to  tiiul  the   lords'   and   their 

•*%xy'.'   arhitniry  •  xtortions  complained  of  and  reproved. 

1%!'  r»'  quitting  this  hniiich  of  the  .^^uhjeet  it  may  Ik.*  well  to 
'U   It   th»-  words  of  the  edittir  of  Domesday,  J>ir  Henry 


»'» 


»-  * 


•  *    " 


itrv^    frm   Chaucer,  p.  '  St-o  I  ho  <iUotfttiun  from  his  Hand- 

lyi*g  Synne  bcluw. 


xlviii  ON    **  BONDMAN." 

Ellis.  After  a  longish  quotation  from  Blackstone^s  Commentaries 
ijp<m  the  villaniy  he  says  {General  Introduction  to  Domesday 
Book,  vol.  i.  p.  80) : 

There  are,  however,  nnmeroos  entries  in  the  Domesday  Survey 
wliieh  indicate  the  Villani  of  that  period  to  have  been  very  different 
fn)m  Bondmen.  They  appear  to  have  answered  to  the  Saxon 
Ceorls,  while  the  Servi  answered  to  the  Deo  was  or  Esnen.  By  a 
do^^rarlation  of  the  Ceorls  and  an  improvement  in  the  state  of  the 
KHHcn,  the  two  classes  were  brought  gradually  nearer  together,  till 
at  last  the  military  oppression  of  the  Normans  thmsting  down  all 
do^(M!H  of  tenants  and  servants  into  one  common  slavery,  or  at 
leaMt  in  if)  strict  dependance,  one  name  was  adopted  for  both  of  them 
HH  a  generic  term,  that  of  VUleitis  regardant 

The  next  questions  are^  how  long  were  the  words  bonde  and 
bondrnan  used  for  the  villan  class ;  and  when  did  their  bondage 
cMiHii ;  or  at  leasts  did  it  continue,  and  if  so,  with  what  amelior- 
ation did  it  continue,  up  to  the  time  when  our  ballad  may  be 
MijppowMl  to  have  been  written  ? 

Ah  the  names  require  extracts,  the  two  questions  may  be 
trrjat^jd  together. 

Archdeacon  Hale,  writing  of  the  land  and  villans  of  the 
Triory  of  St.  Mary's,  Worcester,  in  or  about  1240  a.d.  says: 

Tho  rjuaiitity  of  land  in  villenage  in  each  manor  being  fixed,  and 
iho  (jtianiiiy  of  labour  due  from  it  fixed  also,  it  foUovrs  that  the 
lordM   of  manors  were  not  arbitrary  masters  who  had  nnlimited 

{Hiwur  over  the  person  and  property  of  these  tenants.  There  is, 
lowitvfir,  Uh}  much  reason  to  believe  that,  taking  into  account  the 
liiljour  of  various  kinds  to  which  the  holder  of  a  small  quantity  of 
villiin  lurid  was  liable,  ho  paid  what  was  equivalent  to  a  high  rent. 
UiH  jHrnition  as  a  holder  of  land,  which  would  descend  to  his  family, 
wfiH  Hiipcrior  U)  that  of  the  modem  labourer ;  and  yet  he  might  not 
\ni  \H'.Uiir  off  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view.  His  place  in  society 
wiiN  marked  also  by  the  obligation  to  give  "  Thac  et  Thol,  auxilium 
ill  nierchcit,  et  in  obitu  melius  catallum."  (Thac  was  **  Pig-money, 
a  pfiyiiHint  made  by  the  villans  to  the  lord  in  the  autumn  for 
iivisry  pig  (the  sows  excepted),  of  a  year  old  one  penny,  and  under  the 
year  a  liulfjieiiiiy.  I'hol,  the  Penny  paid  by  the  villans  for  licence 
U)  sell  a  horse  or  ox."     Hale,  p.  xx,  xli.     On  Thol,  see  also  p.  lii.) 

This  fixity  of  rent,  and  Professor  Rogers's  pleasant  view  of 
things,  make  one  side  of  the  question ;  the  legal  power  of  the 
lord  over  all  his  villan 's  property,  and  the  exactions  out  of  him 
complained  of  by  preachers,  poets,  and  writers,  the  other. 

In   Layamon  the  word    bonde  is   used  once,  in  the  de- 


ox    **  ■0XD1IA5.''  xlix 

*mption   of  the  treacherous  slaughter   of  Vortiger   and    his 
OfCufooiuQ*  bj  Hengest  and  his : 

Fjni^er  /atT,  1200-20.  LaUr  Uxt,  hrf.  1300. 

Kr  vr«  uC  H^lftmri  V^  was  a  6oiMf  of  Saluaburi, 

ui  obt  ftria^dCf  inuB«o ;  V^t  bar  oo  his  hooda 

■mar  moirhrlD^  ouein  clnbbe  ane  mocfaele  dob, 

be  tar  on  kia  mgge.  fur  to  bi«ke  atones. 

The  «arlfer  text  Sir  F.  Madden  translates : 

TWrr  was  a  bold  cKhtX  *  of  Salisboiy  oome ;  he  bore  on  his  back 
ctroDg  clab. 


In  one  of  a  series  of  interesting  articles  on  the  '^Rights, 
IHftiUlitit-ft,  and  Wages  of  the  Ancient  English  Peasantry/^  in 
\\^  Lt%r  Mtyjazlne  and  RevieiCn  New  Series,  xi.  259,  &a,  I  find 
at  pw  ^3,  under  the  date  of  1279  a.d. 

At  tb«  Mime  f>la^e  [Mollond  at  Castle  Camps,  in  the  south-eastern 
ri-rsi#-r  «*f  Cambridgeshire]  there  were  several  [27]  tenants,  [four  of 
«^»«ii  art*  wfimen«^  liescribed  as  Ifondi\  bondmen,*  One  of  them  [i.e. 
rarlu  rscfpt  12  wlio  held  in  coaples]  held  16  acres  of  land  in  villeii- 
a«e^  It  diiefl  mit  appear  that  he  paid  anj  mail  or  gable.  He  re- 
t3rcr«l  a  f^nwe  and  a  hen,  worth  ^.,  20  eggs  worth  ^l.,  and  a 
«4Qju^«T  nf  i«its  worth  12d.  He  worked  for  tlie  lord  twice  a  week 
fr^m  Micfaarbnas  to  Pentecost,  and  thrice  a  week  from  Pentecost  to 
M^-barbnan,  and  ploaghed  nine  acres  in  the  year.  It  is  plain  that 
tLi*  mail  wmt  an  operative  tenant.' 


H*i*'^l*A'  t/t€  Dune  comes  next,  and  in  it  the  bondman  is  the 
\m'^<xui  uT  ploughman: 

Tlii'l«r  komcn  l^jthc  stronco  ami  wii}k»' ; 

T)i»«i«r  k'»aapn  lesk*^*  un«l  tn'«r»', 

Tluit  Id  ihf  U»rw  thann**  wnvn  thore  ; 

rham|noun*.  and  Markc  Liiltle«, 

/A  hii*.»fn  with  h«-iv  ir.itMts, 

W"  hi'  c«.rn»  II  fn»  th»*  j-'ow  ; 

IUkT*  aa*  svnibUng  inow  : 

(til.  Mad.l.n,  p.  3y,  1.  1(H2-I01R.) 

Anotl^r  clmin  <1  rem ♦■»!••  nu*  t-k. 

Til  Kui;«LiD«i.  and  nl  aith  mo 
Tli-V  rurre  wiw  in  I)«'Urmark  lyufn. 


■    '-r*    •    •.•r*i    :n   !hc  Uji»k   in  the  pnlliD<rm,  A:  vjilowt  iij  d.  :  xx.  ovf?  «jw'^ 

;-'--\    •»-.•*  .f  «**:••  v.il«  ijr    iAtJmn    |J«l.|.    &    j    i\niirffrii/,n 

'   •;«'>•'■•.    ^r-,  '    «»„'*■?     ■  •*   f  ••r»m«  n.  ar- n/^  «ju«i«l  val«t   xijtl..  ^:   fa<'it   a   |V«.|»» 

.*'.--   fc.'-  ^  - '  Zi  '•♦»••£»   thr  Tu  |..iuurj'  Siin/i  Sli«lu/'li.H  umj'//*  lN'iit/^<*.«/rtyi/.  •  ti*. 

7      .     •%u,%:'   «  .  ft.»r».  -    J    litindnd    liUU    [K-d,     1818),    4J.*», 

*  /.*..*.       Hu»''Ii^'   t«  n«t  xri.  acr«»4t  c«j1.  1. 
Vr^     •  1 .  ^'.^^¥  .  Ac  vIaI  j  auca/M  rt  j 

%    :     II  d 


1  '.'3    -K'SWLiy, 


p.  p.  90,  L  1304-1311.) 


Iii  t?.r  S.'^rJ  :/  :i^  Hi^.n^i  iri-iTu  of  the  reign  of  Edward  I. 
I  li72-13«.»7  A.i«.  in  Wri^t.t'5  PjiUkcal  Sonffg,  Camden  Soc 
p.  15i»,  i-.'jrfe  rtirtseikti  ibe  •*  peasant "  clasB. 


TbriT^  Vioirsz  yi  btjlr^  faeh  hum  heth  hiffiL 

BkkTcc^  lai  fo»e>«  ibe  deee  And  tlk^  ksTslit. 

^3Cd.  AatL  2253,  leaf  64.) 


In  1297,  taking  that  as  Ri'bert  of  Gloucester's  date,  he  says 
of  William  the  Conqueror  and  his  *  high  men : ' 

Hii  to-draweth  fe  selv  l<-*.d<  men,  as  wolde  hem  hnlde  ywys.— 
ii.  370. 

which  the  latter  reading  gires  as 

Ilii  tormenteth  hare  tenaunUfy  as  hnlde  hem  they  wolde. 

Again  in  one  of  the  Lives  of  SnintSy  said  to  have  been  written 
by  Kobert  of  Gloucester,  is  this  passage : 

If  a  homiemam  hadde  a  aone :  to  deigie  idnire. 

He  ne  scholde,  without  his  loreides  lere :  not  icroaned  beo. 

(ab.  1300-10  A.n.  Lifeo/Belxt,  1.  552.) 

Robert  of  Brunne,  in  the  lifelike  sketch  which  he  gives  us  of 
the  England — or,  at  least,  the  Lincolnshire-— of  1303,  as  he 
tells  the  men  of  his  day  of  their  sins^  of  course  does  not  forget 
the  bondman  and  his  lord,  of  course  remembers  the  poor : 

Blessyd  be  alle  poore  men, 

For  God  almy^ty  \oxlo^  >em.  • 

(Handlyng  Syime,  p.  180, 1.  5741-2.) 

One  tale  that  he  tells  shows  a  certain  independence  on  tiie 
part  of  a  bondman,  and  I  therefore  take  that  first,  from  the 
llamllyng  Synne^  p.  269-70.  In  a  Norfolk  village  a  knight's 
house  and  homestead  (manor)  were  near  the  churchyard, 
into  which  his  herdsmen  let  his  cattle,  and  they  defiled  the 
graves.  A  boyule  vian  saw  that,  was  woe  that  the  beasti 
should  there  go,  went  to  the  lord,  and  said,  "Lord,  your  herda- 
luoii  do  wrong  to  let  your  beasts  defile  these  graves.     Where 


J 


on  ^BonvuAn.^  li 

fn^n*s  l>on€S  lie,  beasU  should  do  no  nastiness."  The  Lord's 
an*w»-r  was  "  somewhat  vile,'*  "  A  pretty  thing  indeed  to  honour 
»'ich  chiirU^  bones !  ^liat  honour  need  men  pay  to  such  churls' 
livi'l  bodies?''  And  then  the  bonde-man  said  him  words  full 
«dl  together  laid: 

Tbe  lord  tluU  mad«  of  eaUh-e,  earls. 
Of  the  mne  eaith  nude  he  chnrU : 
Emrlha  might,  and  Iptd^  stst,  (ttmt) 
As  efavri^  shall  in  earth  be  pot* 
EarUs,  chui^  all  at  ones ;  (ooee) 
Shall  oooe  know  jronr,  from  oar,  booea. 

Whkb  reproof  the  lord  took  in  good  part  (few  would  have 
d<4ie  w>,  says  Robert  of  Brunne  ^),  and  promised  that  his  beasts 
^L'Hilil  no  more  break  into  the  churchyard. 

I$ut  still  there  is  evidence  enough  in  the  Handlyng  Synne 
iliMX  if  m  lord  wanted  a  bondman's  wife  or  daughter,  he  would 
brjc  only  carry  her  off,  but  brag  of  it  afterwards  (p.  231,  1. 
7420-7) ;  and  as  to  the  treatment  of  the  poor  by  their  superiors, 
ki/Lert  of  Brunne  asks — he  is  not  here  translating  Wadington — 

Lord,  how  shul  >eae  robbers  fkre, 

pat  ^e  pore  pepjl  peljn  fal  bare,— 

Ertts,  iDDjgiea,  ana  barooos 

Asd  aQ>«r  lordjngis  of  tomiiies, 

JostTsrs,  shrjrnes  and  bayljmjs, 

^at  Ke  lawte  alls  to-iyiies. 

And  >e  pore  men  alle  to-pyle  f 

To  ryche  men  do  ^y  but  as  jiy  wylle. — 

(p.  212,  1.  6790-7.) 

\h'  [:*:»€•*  on  denouncing  them  who  "  pyle  and  bete  many  pore 
^.-  u,"  and  c«»iitrahtjj  their  conduct  with  that  of  Dives  to  I^izarus, 
»t*'fu  Ihvt«  did  not  rub  of  gold  or  fee, 

He  (!vJc  but  \vtc  Ml  bguode  h\'m  to : 
Yr  nchc  men,  weyl  wem  je  do  I 
Ye  wyl  u*inn  buuutliti  to  hem  lc't<», 
But,  \c  M'lf,  hem  d^  and  bete. 
Hf  ne  dyde  but  we rtu'dtf  hym  of  hys  mctc ; 
Ad«!  K"  r«»bl<;  si  h*t  ;e  mow  j?tte. 
Ye  siv  an  lh-ut*«  ^at  wyl  nai^hte  ?gn«*; 
\tA  wtn:  for  }t  robU-  Mt  >»ey  [the  poor]  nhuldo  by  lyne. 

{/landtymj  Symmr,  p.  213,  L  6812-19.) 

lo  a  previous  passage  the  lords'   arbitrary  exactions   from 

Ht  tf*-  * »!  (r^r^  I'/nirn  now  I>^nlyn|irpii.-  ►yr  niv  ynow  of  1«» ; 

K:  tir*^  %  wrie  •o  wi-l  t«»  |  row ;  Of  K«i>t}l    nien.  >»yr   ar«   but    fo 

li**  wi*'.  *rit^  b-ni  an)  i»k>ll#-,  U»^^J- 


llii»;«>  *^u  f-za'y  Ky  w)llr. 


a  2 


lu 


ON  "BONDMAN." 


-are  ex- 


men  in  bondage^or  vileynage  as  Wadington  has  it- 
pressly  mentioned : 

And  ^yf  a  lorde  of  a  toonne 

Robbe  his  men  oute  of  resounei 

>oghe  hyt  be  yn  bondage^ 

AjeDS  ryjt  he  do|>e  outrage. 

He  shaf  so  take  ^at  he  [the  bondman]  may  lyue. 

And  as  lawe  of  londe  wyl  for^yue ; 

For  ^yf  he  take  ouer  mesure, 

Lytvl  tym6  shal  hyt  dure. 

Ixjghe  God  haue  ^eue  ^e  seynorye, 

He  ^af  hym  no  leue  to  do  robborye ; 

For  god  ha|>  ordeyned  al  mennys  state, 

How  to  lyue,  and  yn  what  gate ; 

And  )>o^t  he  ^yue  one  ouer  ol>er  myjt, 

He  wyl  |>at  he  do  hym  but  ry^t. 

|>y8  ys  |>e  ryjt  of  Goddys  lokyng : 

^elde  eucry  man  hys  owne  ^yng. 

But  God  take)>  euermore  veniaunce 

Of  lordys,  for  swych  myschaunce, 

For  swych  robbery  )>at  )>ey  make, 

)»at  ofte  of  >e  pouro  men  take. 

He  then  tells  a  tale  of  what  a  Knight  suffered  in  Purgatoiy 
(or  hell)  fire,  for  robbing  a  poor  man  of  a  cloth,  and  windi 
up  with  the  moral : 

Certys  >efte  iy;t  wykkede  ys  .  .  . 
Namly  *  pore  men  for  to  pele 
Or  robbe  or  bete  wy)>-oute  skyle.* 

The  next  reference  to  the  word  in  Stratmann's  Dictionary  fa 
to  William  and  the  Werwolf ^  (better,  William  of  PcUerne: 
E.  E.  Text  Soc.  1868,  Extra  Series,)  of  ab.  1340  a.d.  L  216. 

do  quickliche  crie  )»urth  eche  cuntre  of  yi  king-riche 
|>at  barouns  burgeys  &  bonde  '  &  alle  o^  bumes 
|>at  muwe  wi^tly  in  any  wise  walken  a-boute 
|>at  )>ci  wende  wi^tly  as  wide  as  H  reaume. 

(William  and  Werwoff,  p.  77,  od.  Madden.) 

In  William  of  Malvern's  ^  Vision  of  Piers  Ploughman,  about 
1362  A.D.  we  have: 


'  especially. 

*  reason. 

'  Bonde,  «.  S.  Bondsmen,  villains ;  as 
opposed  to  the  orders  of  barons  and 
burgesses,  77. — Glossary  to  the  above. 
But  the  bonde  are  still  one  of  the  three 
principal  orders  of  men,  as  shown  by 
the  "  other  bumes  "  who  are  not  worth 
specifying. — Skeat. 


*  Mr.  Hales's  name  for  the  sothor  of 
the  Visiont  who  is  sometiiiies  oalkd 
Langland.  As  there  is  no  real  eridBBCt 
for  the  name  Langland,  I  prefbr  tbi 
vaguer  title  William  of  Malyfm,  thoogfl 
Malvern  is  only  mentioned  in  the  tal 
of  the  poems  of  which  the  Vinom  u 
composed. 


i 


OS  "Bcnmux. 


m 


amd  Bssm*  and  Bimdr  f  abo 


In  Vi  ii,^t*f  edition  crf^  the  VUion^  I  88, 1.  2859  is— 

Awd  —  •  Umdt  ■■■  of  hii  baeoa  iai  btrf# 

Attd  part  of  the  knigfat^s  doty  L 


▲ad  mubeod*  >o«  not  H  homiemm  -  ^  beCcr  Km  aeUt  sped*. 

(Fuw  TiL  L  44,  Vcnoa  Text,  cd.  Skcat,  p.  7«.) 


Id  the  third  text  of  the  Vision  we  read — 


mm  and  bartaidw  'and  bcnari  diildmi, 
byiuagtih  to  laboar  *  aad  tadca  duldreo  iliolde  MfTea, 
Bi4ii#  duA  Md  good  sea  *  as  hen  digi«e  aakech 

Aad  •ith.  hmJtmrmme  bamea  *  has  be  made  lii«hopea, 
Aad  baroM  ba«tafdca  *  haa  bm  aidudekeoca ; 
Aad  aoprn  aad  bera  tooca  *  §or  telTer  baa  be  kargbtea, 
Aad  lordpae  aooea  hera  laborerea. — (ab.  ISSO.    Vmon  of  Pifn  PUm'mam, 

Wbitaker  a  tcoEt.    Faasna  Sextos.) 

Mr.  Skeat  atyi  that  the  TariooB  readings  in  the  MSS.  of  the 
Visitm  thorn  that  bondage  or  bondages  was  used  for  bonde^ 
1^  aod  that  bonds  is  thus  connected  with  the  verb  to  bind. 
i  bondemsn  and  bonde/olk^  as  the  equivalents  of 
f^erU  aiMl  ikralUs  in  his  Persones  Tale,  de  Avariiia  (p.  282  ed. 
Wright,  quoted  below,  pw  554-5),  while  in  The  Frere's  Tale  the 
nac  10  of  one  bound  : 

IHnprwith  Tom*  b«te«  to  withstonde 

The  frod,  that  wolde  make  yow  thral  and  bonded 

Tl.^    Tt-ar    1394,   or   therealwuts,  gives   u«   that   wonderful 
f*t^  if  of   a  bf^nileinan  or  ploughman  whom  its  paiuter  sairj 


, .•«  • 


Aari  f  fbrrrirrT.  xher  a*  the  Inwi* 
f  I'rafnon-l  f^to*\*-*  of  fm,iui^/fJk 
'.-•1  ',20^  ^-^U*  *d  hrf  lorl»-« ;  ye.  tliat 
m  V.  oaltfirfoiyl^  the  kuoi1«-«  of  the 
a-»*i«r  r/i  i*-{rt»t\f  heminht-rr  nght**, 
'.»%•  »/  .•'   r»/Ar  Am  w^  tr,  rtvf  ktm. 

'  Is  rv  (^cfTT  'jo  thr  I>nith  of  Kin(( 
r^v^rl  III  the  ^hrsM  "  bidt*  hf-r 
:#«»U  *    •   ^i'iM#<l    "  muain   as    thfir 

T:.  •  f»r«i«    arhip.    I  may  n^mc^Do 

m 

T-   'r-*  Ojilmlnr^  of  thi*  loDdo, 

•a«  •  nw'  ?hr»  '^#un*r«l  n'rtirt  s  ^-^  n»». 

IW>  aj  FfraXiCr  Ich  uu«lrrHtoud«' 


Thei  tok  &  slou)  hem  with  ht'^jro 
hon<ie 
Tlie  {lowrr  of  Ffranco  l^.th  nmi\\ 
snd  KT^te, 
And  bnm^t  th«T  Kyng  hidertobide 
hff  hitmie. 
And  nuu  ri)t  vone  hit  [the  shii*] 
ij»  fonet**- 
Mvrr'i*  uj»o  of  ht>mfr  is  this: 
Fyr^t  ^w  ni'ietc  f^yn  niynno, 
W'hAt  he  \n  hit  doth  ►«♦  synnc, 
Whi  Kt  hyt  Ik*  hoo  '»r  ho, 
I'on^^  or  old**,  Utmit,  or  fiv, 
Pon*  or  n'(*h«s  or  in  offys. 

(Ah.  1 1'MK  Myrr,  In]*frut'twnjt/.'r 
r,truk  l*ru*U,  I*.  47.) 


i 


liv  ON   "BONDMAN." 

and  wliicli  ivill   not  be  out  of  the  mind  of  anyone  who  has 
studied  it : 

And  AB  y  wcnte  be  J»c  waie  •  wepynge  for  sorove, 
I]  Beij  a  8v\y  man  me  by  *  opon  |>e  plow  hon^*n. 
liH  cote  waft  of  a  oloute  *  )»at  cary  was  y-callcd, 

IliH  liod  was  full  of  holes  *  &  his  heer  oute, 

'\Vi|>  his  knopped  sohon  *  clouted  full  ^ykke ; 

IIiH  ton  toteden  out  *  as  he  )>c  londo  trcddeile, 

His  hoscn  oucrhonpien  his  hokschynes  *  on  eueriche  a  side, 

Al  l>esIombred  in  fen  *  as  he  ^  plow  folwede ; 

Twey  mytcynes,  as  mete  *  maad  all  of  doutes ; 

po  fynffors  woren  for-wcrd  ■  &  ful  of  fou  honged. 

pis  whit  wascluilu  in  K  [fen]  *  almost  to  |«  ancle, 

Fourc  r<jK*rf  n  hym  by-fom  •  [>at  feble  were  [wor|j«n]  ; 

3Ien  mv;tc  reken  iirh  a  r\'b  *  so  reufiill  J^er  weren.- 

ilis  wijf  walked  him  wi)»  *  wi)»  a  longe  gode, 

In  a  cuttiid  coto  •  cutted  full  heyje, 

Wrapped  in  a  wynwo  schete  •  to  weren  hire  fro  weden,' 

Jiarfote  on  >e  bare  ijs  '  hat  >e  blod  folwede. 

And  at  he  lon<lc8  ende  layo  *  a  litell  crom-1x)lle, 

And  hrnm  lay  a  litell  childe  *  lapped  in  clouti«, 

And  twcync  of  tweie  3ereB  olde  '  opon  a-no  h^r  sydo. 

And  alle  K'y  songen  o  songe  *  hat  sorwe  was  to  heren ; 

pcy  crieden  alio  o  cry  *  a  carefull  note. 

{lierce  the  n<^ughman*9  Crede,  1.  420-441,  ed.  Skeat^  1867.) 

Those  last  two  lines  sum  up  for  me  the  English  hittory  of  the 
English  poor  (as  has  been  said  elsewhere)^  it  was  *'  full  of 
care." 

Frater  Galfridus^  about  1440,  has  in  the  Promptorium 

Bonde,  as  a  man  or  woman,  Servus,  serva, 

Bondman  .  SerivHf  nafivun  [neif.] 

Bondschopo  .  Nativi/as :  but  Bondage  .  ServitMB, 

That  the  lord's  power  over  his  bondmen  was  a  reality,  and 
that  he  "  frequently  took  advantage  of  his  power  to  tyrannize, 
is  proved  by  the  example  of  Sir  Simon  Burley,  the  tutor  of 
Kichard  II.,  who  seized  forcibly  an  industrious  artizan  at 
Gravesend,  on  the  plea  of  his  being  his  escaped  bondsman,  and, 
when  his  exorbitant  demand  was  refused,  threw  him  into  the 
prison  of  Rochester  Castle." — (Wright  in  ArchcDoL  xxx.  235.) 
And  that  the  Lord's  power  over  his  bondman  existed  into  the 
16th  century  is  shown  by  the  following  extracts.' 

>  It  is  a  wyues  occupation,  to  trunotpe  hay,  come,  and  snche  other.    ?  152S. 

all  Juanntr  of  comes,  to  make  tniStvi,  to  — Fitzherbcrt's  Husbandry,   ed.   1767i 

washe  and  wr^'nge,  to  make  hoye,  shore  p.  92. 

come,  and  in  time  of  nedo  to  helpc  her  *  Mr.  Wright  sa^'s,   "  We  can  tnce 

husbandc  to  fyll  the  muckc-waync  or  these  charters  of  manumission  [of  Til* 

doungo-carte,  drtfw  the  jtloiiyhr,  to  loode  laiis J  down  to  a  yery  lul«  period.    In  t 


ON   •*  BONDMAN."  Iv 

In  1519  among  tbe  Duke  of  Buckingham's  payments  in  Prof. 
Brewer^!  CaUnSxry  iii.^  Pt  L  p.  498,  ii 


2^  March,  to  Walter  Pkrker,  40£,  "  restored  to  him  for  a  fine  by 
him  made  to  me,  for  that  he  was  my  bondman^  and  made  free  during 
Li«  Hie,  for  that  I  gave  him  a  patent." 

In  1521  on 

**  Tbe  Ihike*s  Lands  .  .  at  Caors  (in  Wales)  are  ^  Many  bondmen 
UiCh  rich  and  poor. — i^.  p.  509. 

In  1523  (?),  FiUberbert  says  : 

Costomarj  ienanntes/  are  those  that  holde  their  landes  of  their 
kinle  by  oopje  of  conrte  role/  after  the  cnstome  of  the  manere.  And 
iiwertf  may  be  many  tenaantes  with-in  the  same  manere  y^  have  no 
c**Yjem  and  yet  holde  be  lyke  cnstome  and  semyce  at  the  wyll  of  the 
k»rde.  mnd  in  myne  opinyon/  it  began  soone  after  the  conquest/  whan 
Wyllyam  Omqaeronr  had  conquered  this  realme/  ho  rewarded  all 
%lmmt  that  came  with  hrm  in  his  voyage  royall  accordyng  to  their 
dcfrrv.  And  to  honourable  men  he  gane/ lordshippes/  maners/  laiides/ 
aad  tenementes/  with  all  the  inhab3rtaniites/  men  and  women  dwell- 
mir  in  the  same/  to  do  with  them  at  their  pleasure.  And  those 
Wooonrable  men  thought  y*  they  must  nedes  naue  seruauntes  and 
tenaaittes/  and  their  umdes  occupyed  with  tyllage.  Wherfore  they 
|«snlaciad  the  inhabytauntes  of  their  lyues/  and  caused  them  to  do 
all  maaer  of  semyoe  that  was  to  be  done/  were  it  neuer  so  vyle  /  and 
cmuAed  them  to  occupye  their  landes  and  tenementes  in  tyllage  and 
!•  kc  ii{  them  suehe  retitos/  custonies/  and  seniyceH/  as  it  pleased 
t^  .M  iM>  liaue.  And  also  toke  all  their  pMnloH  <&  catoll  at  all  tyines 
ifct  ihrir  pUti^turc*  and  calle<l  tliem  their  h*mth  vum.  and  sytlie  that 
\\  rr.e  nuktix  iK>ble  men  bothe  8pir>'tuall  and  temporall,  of  their  godly 
ci;«{««*\rt4in  liAue  muile  t4>  dvuers  of  the  savd  lumde  mm  uiaini- 
iniM«i<'ii*t,  ati«i  irrauntcHl  them  frtnlome  and  lybertie.  and  set  to  them 
\}m.'\T  Un<l«-«and  tcnenwtiti'M  t<MH*oupv/  after  d^iiers  maners  of  rentes  ' 
m.«t«>m«-»  and  xTuyci"*,  the  whiehi*  is  vsed  in  dyuers  places  vnto  tliis 
d»\r.  l*t>w  U-  it  in  w»me  pliirt.*fi  the  lunule  turn  (*«)ntyniie  as  yet/  thi» 
m\  u'\h'  n\v  ik'UU'th  if)  the  jrrettest  ineonuenye/it  that  nowe  is  sufln'd 
In  tlw  \mwv.  That  h*,  to  haiie  anv  ehristen  man  IxuHleii  to  anotluT 
w.  i  t.»  liAue  iIk'  mil*  nf  hin  IxkIv  himh's  ami  pxHles/  that  his  wiff 
r"  t  jtirt* n  and  >*nTUttunte»  have  lalxmre*!  for  all  their  lyfe  tynie  '  to  In* 
►^  lA^n    lyke  us  and  it  were  exlorcion  or  brilx-ry.    And  many  tymi  s 

J.  -    II    ;'i«t  l^ffifv  the  p<*a*%ntn*  iii«ur-  wr  havi-  n  cliart«r   of  Rffran»'hi^•^n^.  r>t 

.■•--  .  «      J   Ko     Wtmnl     or    '  AUi^uh  '  \y  lh»'  |»rior>  of  IWauviilli'  in  ♦»  lit  n.  V. 

»  i- ,if:  ••  ft  ^'mal*  1  .'!.tfi.  ami  i^MVr*  h<T,  A.i»  I  I  !'.>,  an<l  anothi-r  hy  (moiv  N<  vl.-. 

•  •  .  i^f     ^- f*t .  I.' r  „-•-!••  M>'1  <"fn*tt.i«.  lonl  lU  n:«  Viuiiy.  ti»  lat*- ivH 'J  livti.  Vlll., 

«^«  t;,'   i.\mt^}  "#  *il  li<tr  ufl'«>)>nii^  ;  au«l  At'    lol  1." 


Ivi  ON  "bondman." 

by  colour  therof/  tlicro  bo  many  fro  men  taken  as  hojide  mcn/iuid 
their  landes  and  goodes  taken  fro  them/  so  that  they  shall  not  be 
able  to  sue  for  remedy  to  prove  them  selfe  fre  of  blode.  And  that 
is  moost  commonly  where  the  fre  men  have  the  same  name  as  the 
ho7ide  wen  haue/  or  that  his  aunc^sters  of  whome  he  is  comen/  was 
manumised  before  his  byrthe.  In  suche  cause  there  can  nat  be  to 
great  a  punysshement.  for  as  me  semeth  there  shulde  no  man  be 
bonde  but  to  god/  and  to  his  king  and  prince  ouer  hym.  Quia  deus 
non  facit  exceptionem  personarum.  For  god  maketh  no  excepcyon 
of  any  person. — ^Fitzherbert's  Boke  of  Surveyeng  Sf  Improurtieide$ 
Cap.  xiii.  fol.  xxvi. 

I  do  not  carry  these  extracts  further,  because  those  that  have 
been  given — and  they  might  be  ten-folded  with  ease — suflS- 
cientl}'  prove  the  reality  of  the  hardships  which  the  bondmen 
suffered,  and  that  certain  of  these  hardships  were  in  being  as 
late  as  Fitzherbert's  time,  about  1520.  Vague  talk  that  the 
doctrine  of  the  law-books  was  never  carried  out  in  practice, 
that  monkish  writers  exaggerated  a  molehill  into  a  mountain 
&c.,  will  not  do  in  the  face  of  the  evidence  that  literature 
supplies.  "  Master  Fitzherbarde  "  was  not  a  sentimentalist,  but 
a  practical  horsebreeder,  farmer  and  surveyor,*  and  spoke  of  the 
bondmen's  evils  as  he  would  speak  of  his  broodmares'  ailments. 
There  is  no  need  for  us  then  to  imagine — as  Professor  Rogers 
does,  in  his  very  valuable  and  interesting  Histoiy  of  Prices^  i. 
81 — a  cause,  of  which  no  trace  has  come  down  to  us,  for  Wat 
Tyler's  rebellion.  Cause  enough,  and  to  spare,  there  was  in 
the  condition  of  the  men,  if  only  that  shown  in  their  demand 
"  that  we,  our  wives  and  children,  shall  be  free."  Granted  that 
the  students  of  literature  and  charters  alone  get  from  them  too 
dark  a  view  of  the  state  of  the  early  poor, — as  Mr.  Wright  may 
have  done  —  yet  we  must  declare  that  the  student  of  prices  on 
college  lands  alone  gets  a  too  rose-coloured  view,  and  that  the 
wrongs  of  the  bondmen  were  real  and  deep ;  even  Chaucer  and 
Froissart  witness  it. 

On  this  bonde  and  hondeman  question  I  conclude  then,  though 
with  much  diffidence,  and  acknowledging  the  insufficiency  of  the 
evidence  for  some  points :  1,  that  the  bonde  was  originally  free, 
that  he  was  the  Saxon  ceorl  or  twihind,  with  a  Danish  name ; 
2,  that  if  not  partially  before,  yet  wholly  after,  the  Conquest, 
his  class,  or  the  greater  part  of  it,  became  bondmen  or  villans, 
bond  on  bond-land ;  3,  that  gradually  they  threw  off  their  ser- 

>  It  must  bo  a  mistake  to  identify  him  with  Sir  Anthony  Fitzherbert. 


OR   "BONDMAN*** 


Ivii 


Tice  and  signs  of  bondage,  taking  the  first  decided  step  in 
adrmnoe  in  Edward  I/s  time,  the  second  and  more  decided  one 
in  Edward  III.  and  Richard  II.'s  time ;  4,  that  in  1520  the 
Uirden  of  bondage  was  still  heavy.  (It  gradually  disappeared,^ 
except  so  far  as  our  present  copyhold  fines  and  heriots  repre- 
Mfot  it.  Slavery  was  abolished  by  a  statute  of  Charles  II. 
Tbr  attempt  to  abolish  it  in  1526  proved  a  vain  one.  Wright.) 
But  our  bondman  was  John  the  ReevSj  though  no  special 
duties  of  bis  as  Reeve  are  alluded  to  in  the  Ballad.  On  those 
duties  in  Anglo-Saxon  times  the  reader  may  consult  the 
rrferencen  in  Thorpe*s  Index  to  the  Ancient  Laws,  voL  i.,  and 
^en'tion  12  of  the  InstUutfs  of  Polity ,  in  voL  ii.  p.  320-1. 
Tlie  oflBce  of  Reeve  was  one  that  every  villan  was  bound  to 
•4-rTe^  and  although  the  Law  Magazine  says  it  was  one  which 
tlie  villan  rather  declined  and  avoided,'  it  must  have  been 
••ne  which,  in  later  times  at  least,  helped  to  fill  its  holder's 
p*jckeCa.  The  Reeve's  duty  was  to  manage  his  lord's  demesne, 
V»  Miperintend  the  service-tenant's  work  on  it,  to  collect  the 
I'-nfA  due«  and  rent  in  money  and  kind,  and  submit  his  accounts 
trarlj  to  the  auditor.  As  the  Sloane  MS.  Boke  of  Curtesye 
%A}%  of  the  greve  or  reve — 

Gfwiyi,  ftnd  bajljrs  and  parker, 
Hrhooe  come  to  aooantes  tmtrj  yere 
WjioT^  h>  aoditoar  of  ^  lorde  ododo, 
pat  trhaldr  be  tronr  as  any  stODe, 
Vf  h«*  «1«»M»  horn  no  ry^x  I»l<', 
To  tt  littivin  of  cb«'kk«r  Ny  mun  hit  pelc. 

{liaUes  Book,  p.  318, 1.  589-94.) 

And  an  William  of  Malvern  savs — 


4 


Ty**    stm^    *^fm^   to    h.ivo    l.i«t«'«i 

..■- r     n    ^N  .f**:!!!    tluin   in   Knft:l»»"«i  ; 

J  fcR*  •«*:."•    IhrritjijAry,    4t<»,    IHJ'), 

-  n,-  :;• 
i» ■%:•*'.».  Il»nnair«-,  *.     T^j^  d'-^^ic- 
i  iT  T« n    to  th»-  •»»'rii»*»'«.  «!u»'  \>y  a 

•  ' •    'tf  fMriii'T.    ^  r*4-l  in  ,  Anini«».*' 

— .    *•  :»*..»•«•■       Am. I   th««M'  mi-r*    tx- 
•    -»   .•»   •-•«!' I rii»'.  in  pl'i'i^'huij; 
.\r-  *  ;-j  •  •-«•    |'r».{n»f»«r  •  l.»in!.  - 
.,..•.-•      n    •!*»    i'.»m.i/ii  of  hi^ 

•      •     •  "   *.','  1       .Ifi'!    .M    \\  \T\*  -t .   ill 
.    •  •,    ♦,.•    rn.t."      Ai/rt-iilfinii 


whioh  nffivt*-*!  lh«*  villein*»  pomon  an^ 
coll.rttil   in  one  of  F>lwiinl  11. 'h  Voar- 


T]j««  late  abri^lccment  of  Jiimiffwin 
\r^\v'^  "  lii'fulay  Wark'i*,  the  time  a 
t«*n;int  or  Viu»Hjil  jo  bound  to  work  for 
thf  j-nji'mtor." 

'  The  chief  incidents  of  ba»o  t^'nure 

pemon  ar 
11. 'h  Vcmi 

Uxikn.  (5  VA.  11.)  They  were,  -1.  Tile 
bl<H.».l  fine,  or  nmrria^t'  ntnnom ;  *2.  the 
t.iilb-  <ir  talKiire.  a  variable  eliaiv*'.  »np- 
i'Iant«"«l  bv  r  iruhir  taxation,  unUsf*  it  en- 
diir»*<l  un«ler  the  nam*-  «»f  ch»  vap* ;  ,'J.  th** 
oKIt^Mitioti  of  un<li>rt.ikiiiif  thi*  otlic*'  of 
ri-^'ve  or  liiibflF.  an  invidiou*  Hiijnify 
uhii'h  \\\''  vilbiii  ntber  d«'«  liiieil  .iii<l 
a\oi.b-!.  — /^/T  Mtu).  tV  AVr.  xiii.  II. 


Iviii  ON   "BONDMAN." 

I  make  Pien  the  Plowman  my  procmatour  and  mj  rere. 
And  regictrar  to  receyve.' 

Hedde  quod  debes  (v.  ii.  p.  411,  ed.  Wright). 

And  again — 

Thanne  longh  ther  a  lord,  and  "  bj  this  light  **  seide, 
"  I  holde  it  right  and  reson,  of  my  reye  to  take 
AI  that  myn  auditour,  or  ellis  my  steward 
Coanseiloth  me  bi  hir  acounte  and  my  clerkee  writyng. 
With  spiritus  intelUctus  thei  seke  the  reves  rolles ; 
And  with  spiritus  fortitudinis  fecche  it  I  wole  after." 

(Fmoii,ii.  423.) 

Need  one  quote  Chaucer's  sketch  of  the  Eeeve — 

Wei  cowde  he  kepe  a  gemer  and  a  bynne  ; 
Ther  was  non  auditour  cowde  on  him  wynne. 
Wei  wiste  he  by  the  drought,  and  by  the  rejm, 
The  yoeldyng  of  his  seed,  and  of  his  greyn. 
His  fordes  scheep,  his  neet,  [and]  his  dayerie, 
His  swyn,  his  hors,  his  stoor,  and  his  pnltrie. 
Was  holly  in  this  reeves  govemynge, 
And  by  his  covenaunt  yaf  the  rekenynge, 
Ryn  that  his  lord  was  twenti  yeer  of  age ; 
Ther  couthe  noman  bringe  him  in  arrerage. 
Ther  nas  baillif,  ne  herde,  ne  other  h^e. 
That  they  ne  knewe  his  sleight  and  his  oovyne ; 
They  were  adrad  of  him,  as  of  the  deth. 
His  wonyng  was  ful  fair  upon  an  heth  ; 
With  grene  trees  i-schadewed  was  his  place. 
He  cowde  bettre  than  his  lord  purchace. 
Ful  riche  he  was  i-stored  priTely, 
His  lord  wel  couthe  he  plese  subtiUy, 
To  ffeve  and  lenc  htm  of  his  owne  good. 
And  have  a  thank,  a  cote,  and  eek  an  hood. 
In  youthe  he  lemed  hadde  a  good  mester ; 
He  was  a  wel  good  wright,  a  carpenter. 
This  reeve  sat  upon  a  well  good  stot. 
That  was  a  pomely  gray,  and  highte  Scot. 
A  long  surcote  of  pers  uppon  he  hadde, 
And  by  his  side  he  bar  a  rusty  bladde. 

Our  Reeve  too  has  **a  rusty  bladde,"  rides  a  good  horse,  has  a 
fair  dwelling,  and  is  "ful  riche  istored  prively,"but  Hodgkin  Long 
and  Hob  of  the  Lathe  are  "  not  adrad  of  him  as  of  the  deih.^ 
As  he  was  the  King's  reeve  and  should  have  collected  taxes  '  as 
well  as  dues  and  rents,'  he  ought  to  have  been  a  good  scribe  and 
summer-up,  but  the  ballad  does  not  read  as  if  he  was*     His 

1  See  the  extract  at  the  end  of  this  '  Toulmin  Smith's  PanaK  p>  606» 

paper,  line  12  from  foot.  refers  to  a  rentcharge  paid  to  the  King's 

*  If  Mr.  Toulmin  Smith  be  right  in  reeye. 
his  view,  p.  557  note  bolow. 


on  ^bosdulbJ*  lix 

eneiiiy  it  not  tbe  auditor,  of  whom  we  hear  nothing,  but  the 
courtier  or  porrejor  who  coold  report  his  wealth  to  the  King, 
and  gel  leave,  or  take  it,  to  put  the  screw  on  him.  He  sells  his 
wheat  (L  144)  to  get  it  out  of  sight  (?); — money  oould  be  more 
easily  hidden ; — and  he  has  a  thousand  pounds  and  some  deal 
more. 

The  suf^>er  of  his  pretended  poverty — bean-bread,  rusty 
bacon,  broth,  lean  salt  beef,  and  sour  ale,  may  well  have  been 
buodman*s  food  in  Edward  I/s  time,  better  than  many  got  in 
Kdward  IIL's,  as  William  of  Malvern  shows  (  VisioUj  Passus  VII. 
L  267-^2,  ed.  Skeat,  p.  88-9,  text  A) ;  but  oould  the  supper  of  his 
actual  wealth,  boar's  head  and  capons,  woodcocks,  venison,  swans, 
conies,  curlews,  crane,  heron,  pigeons,  partridges,  and  sweets  of 
many  kinds,  have  been  ever  Keeve's  food  then  ?  I  trow  not. 
r[iaiioer*s  Frankeleyn  couldn't  have  given  a  better  spread  in 
iCicliard  II.'s  time,  and  John  Riisseirs  Franklen  in  Henry  VI.'s 
ihy§  ( ab.  1450-60  A*D.,  say,)  hardly  exceeded  it : 

A  Feoffor  a  FrtmUin. 

44  A  Franklen  may  mnke  a  festa  ImntohenhiUe, 
"^  bimwne  with  mnsUrd  it  eoncordnble, 
bakoft  aer  ned  wiU  pe«oA, 

b(wf  or  moton  ftewed  mto jaable, 
Bojlcd  Chjkon  or  capon  agreable, 
conrenyent  for  ^  M«on ; 

KfHitM  jtoo#e  fc  pvRP^  fullr  profitablr, 
CAjxifi  .  llak« ni«te,  or  Cu>tad»»  C'wtAbl**, 
when  ♦^'gis  6c  cmynK*  be  gchoii. 

hrfnr*"  ituflV  of  hoa!<ehoM  is  behoveable, 
Mirtrowrt  or  Iu^im*!!/*  nr  delectable 

fur  K*  M-coD«l  course  by  rcaou. 

Thiin  re^l.  lairiU',  ky.i.  or  cony, 
Oijkuti  or  |»iiri"<'n  n»»*i«^l  t«n<lurly, 

l-akeniet/j»  >»r  dowcett/*^  witA  allr. 

h  t'j  following''  fntnwrw,  &  a  Icchc  lovelv  ; 
tuohc  wnijkfH-  in  fcvmn  is  full*'  H»'inely 

To  »rruc  vitA  buthe  cbambur  A:  Imllr-. 

'Di'-n  «{ I'uU  fi  |«eriH  witA  Ppicea  d»li»'atoly 
Aftwr  >^   Irmir  of  Jh*  >»'»■'•  fullr  deynteithly, 
wit  A  )>red  and  chem-  to  callr. 

?»|i««^i  cmkrs  and  wafon*  worthily 
ii»ihe  brmp»t  &  rnHh''.  ha«»  nun  may  nionly 
\'[v9*'  ysvlit  bothc  grvt  6i  smalU." 


Ix 


ON   ^BONDHAN. 


w 


Edward  L's  order  for  his  own  coronatioD  feast  was  380  head 

of  cattle^  430  sheep,  450  pigs,  18  wild  boars,  278  flitches  of 

bacon,  and  19,660  capons  and  fowls  (Macfarlane,  Cab.  HisL  iv. 

11,  referring   to  Bymer).     Only  in  bacon,  boar,  and  capons 

could  the  king  have  come  up  to  his  reeve.     To  what  date 

then  are  we  to  bring  the  ballad  down  ?     I  don't  know,  and, 

if  the  reason  I  have   assigned   for   its   being  tacked  on  to 

Edward   I.    be   the   right  one,   I  don't  care;   for  the  main 

point  to  me  is  its  connection  with  him.     But  taking  the  ballad 

AS  it  stands,  the  mention  of  the  OaUiard  in  it,  1.  530,  p.  579, 

shows  that  it  was  recast,  if  not  composed,  after  1541,  when  that 

(lance  was  introduced.     Also  the  Northern  forms  haine^  L  504, 

gaiige,  1.  209,  343,  864,  Strang^  1.  332,  seiUy  1.  502,  ryke^  1. 263, 

farramlj  1.  353,  358,  &c.,  the  present  no-rhymes  of  hoik  and  laihy 

1.  623-4,  641-2,  arse  and  worse,  1.  668-9,  hieele  and  sovle,  L 

806-7,  &c.,  show  that  our  version  is  an  altered  copy  of  a  Northern 

original,  or  Northern  copy.     I  say  copy,  because  if  Uxthe  is  the 

Anglo-Saxon  /oriS,  a  division  of  the  county  peculiar  to  Kent^ 

the  scene  of  the  ballad  must  have  been  Kent ;  but  Chaucer's  use 

of  the  word  in  its  sense  of  bam,  in  his  Reeve's  Tale^ 

yfhy  nad  thou  put  tlie  capil  in  the  lathe  t  ^ 

and  Brockett's  in  his  Olossaiy  of  North  Country  Words, 

Lathe  or  Loathe,  a  place  for  storing  hay  and  com  in  winter — a 
barn. 

saves  us  from  the  necessity  of  supposing  a  double  transformation 
of  the  ballad,  though  this  would  be  authorised  by  the  ascription 
of  it  to  "the  south-west  country"  in  1.  909.  The  Northern 
saint  sworn  by  in  1.  744,  St.  William,  Archbp.  of  York  in  the 
12th  century,  tends  to  confirm  the  Northern  origiu,  as  does  the 
"  clerke  out  of  Lancashire  "  who  read  the  roll  that  contained  the 
tale,  1.  8-12. 


*  The  Prompforium  gives  **  Berne  of 
Infho  (or  hitho  1'.),  Horrcum^  p.  33,  and 
Mr.    Way    wiyH,    "  Lathe,   which   docs 
not   occur  in    its  proper  place  in   the 
Promptorium,    is   possibly  a    word    of 
Danish   introduction    into   the   eastern 
counties,"  Lndo,  harreum,  Dan.    iSkinnor 
observes  thiit  "  it  was  very  commonly 
uswl  in  Lancashire."     At  p.  288  lie  also 
savs  that  Bp.  Kennott  notices  it  also  as 
a  Liuoolushire  woni,  and  that  Harrison, 


speaking  of  the  partition  of  England 
into  shires  and  lathes,  says  "  Some,  as 
it  wore  roming,  or  rouing  at  the  name 
Lath,  do  saie  that  it  is  derived  of  a 
bam,  which  is  called  in  Old  English  a 
lath,  as  they  coniectnre,"  "  Horreum  est 
focus  vbi  rrponitur  annona^  a  bame,  a 
lathe.  Grangiat  lathe  or  grange. — Oa- 
Tus.  Orreum,  granarium^  kfhe.** — Vo- 
cab.  Roy.  MS.,  17,  C.  xvii.  Way. 


ON   "  BON DMAH.'*  1x1 

If  asked  to  gnegs  a  date  for  the  composition  of  the  ballad,  I 
fthcMild  guen  the  earlier  half  of  the  15th  century^  while  for  the 
recmft  of  it  I  should  guess  the  latter  half  of  the  16th,  or  the 
former  half  of  the  17th.  The  tradition  embodied  in  it  is,  I 
doubt  not,  of  the  13th  century. 

Let  me  add,  before  ending  this  long  rigmarole,'  that  John  the 
Reere  was  a  well-known  typical  personage,  like  Piers  Plowman, 
Ac^  MB  IB  shown  by  the  following  extract  from  a  discussion  on 
the  Real  Presence  in  the  Harleian  MS.  207  : 

Bonom  est  sperare  in  domino  qnem  et  sperare 

[1532.] 
The  Banckett  of  lohon  the  Keve.  Vnto  peirs  plon^hman.  Laurens 
Thomhm  Tailyor.  And  hobb  of  the  YnHe.  with  other. 

[A;  rvbooo  maide.  by  hobb  of  the  hille  vnto  Sir  lohan  the  par- 
idbe  prmte  rpon  A  oomminicacion.  Betwene.  lacke  lolie  Servyng- 
mao  of  thone  partie.  And.  lohan  the  reve.  Peirs  plowghman. 
iMwmact  Laborer.  Thomlyn  tailyor.  And  hobb  of  the  hilla  of  thother 
poKie.  Wherin  the  said  Sir  lohan  wold  maike  none  Awnswer  vnto 
hr  knewe  the  olde  vecar  mynde.  the  wiche  saide  vecar  wrote  lyenge 
in  hoB  bedd  veray  aeeke.  and  delyuerde  hys  mynde  in  wrytynge.  vnto 
hk  pcinche  preste.  And  the  said  prest  deljmerd  the  same  booke  to 
hobb  of  the  hill«.  ooonseUynge  hym  to  leame  it.  wherebye  he  myght 
be  more  able  to  maike  better  Answere  to  snche  light  fellows  if  he 
HimxiDoed  to  here  any  suchc  Comminicacion  in  tyme  to  coTnme. 
H*'bb  c»f  the  hilli?  said  vnto  sir  lohan  .;.  Good  morow  Sir  lohan  .;. 
krA  he  AiLHwcred  .;.  Gtxxl  morrowe  hobb  .;.  Hobb  said  .;.  Sir  lohan  I 
*m  T*'TtLT  plade  of  our  met\'n^*' .;.  For  I  am  desirouse  of  yoar  coun- 
•►II-  in  a  weitfhtie  matter  Sir  lohan  said.  Marie  ye  shallc  hauo  the 
hf-^u-  omnri-llr  tlial  is  in  me  .;.  ^Vllat  is  your  matter  Bie  my  faitho 
>ir  ,.  Tt-^t^-rtiaif  My  master  [/*''/  2  b.]  and  lohan  the  reve  maid  a 
f^-^Ate  .\n«i  pitTH  plew^hmau.  I^urence  hil)oror.  And  Thomlyn  tailyt)r 
«^  At  <lvn»T  at  our  ht)usc*  And  I  s**rued  them  at  dyner.  And  t»r 
*.x.f'-  dvTuT  was  clone.  c«>//<me  in  a  Servynjjr  man  called  Itieke  lolio. 
Rrnt  t,«i'ttM*rar  vnto  my  Imlie.  For  my  master  lohan  the  reve  wns 
Kroti'T  thin  y<*are  :  And  when  Iaek[e]  lolie  was  sett  downe.  Ho 
drsiftuxMicd  whether  wc  liad  any  messe  or  no  .;.  And  my  master  saide 

'  !  rfmgiit  t/>  apil'in*^  f«»r  itn  short-  the   dfUy    namiHl,    I    have    not    down 

'-ttacv      It  huM  \<r^n   put  t'lcHlirr  in  opinionn,  miiny  of  which,  thou^^h  hardly 

f***.'  iiM(#.  Mr.  H«lr«t  h.iTintf  \>v*'i\  un-  cxj»r<M»i-<l,  have  not  b«M'n  hwHtily  turnu''l, 

i^%mu*\j  %itui^'lr  t«>liTal   ita  nul»jiTt,  as   my  lon^   c<ion«"Ction    with    workin)^ 

ijT  w'z.^t  Part  II    hA*  >j^n  ki'i-t  \4uk  men    and    wilh    Early     taj^^liuh     may 

in*  f^tkttM       pWl'i^r   ohht^e^i   to   i»ay  guaniDtcr. 
*•  mttt  t,  I  i>g   uo    tbc    c|0<»tt<>u  to   excuao 


Ixii  ON  "bondman." 

we  haddc,  and  tmstede  to  banc .;.  Than  saide  lacke  lolie  tbat  we  war 
"bljnded  for  waant  of  t^achynge.  for  it  is  plane  jdolatrio  to  beleue 
that  the  bodie  and  blonde  of  criste  ar  in  firme  of  breado  and  wyne 
ministrcde  in  the  alter,  And  for  his  purpose  he  Aleged  Many  Sajenecs, 
As  of  Mart jn  luther.  EooolampEidius.  Caralstadij.  iohan  Firts 
Malangton,  with  many  djnerse  other  .;.  Than  peirs  ploughman  waxed 
wonndras  Angric.  and  called  lacke  lolie.  fals  heritike.  Tl^iui  my 
master  desired  them  bothe  to  be  content  in  his  house,  and  to  reason 
the  matte^  gentlie.    And  thei  warre  bothe  oontente  So  to  doo.;. 


Ixiii 


NOTES. 


"  E»»M.  FUntom,  Hwi  RiUon.*    Hen  Bmrd  k  m  nitake  for  fiW, 
viM  p«blkibed  tvo  fxJs.  of  ScoCtiah  Bftllads.— D.    («Alenadcr  Djce.) 


p  t  Clr«y  OUiv.    S«  Mr.  lUidineBt  •  eowBento  oa  this  ' 

tlM&  -«s{»brKii,''  qvodi  Bidwid  Shcale,  do««  mT  mmm  that  Sbcal*  «m  tiw 
b«t  tilt  «r«ftr.    So  ooc  of  the  Picn  Flowaa  IfS^  (HarL  1»M) 


p.!  -  rU/ W^*lke.    Ia  the  "  ConpUjat  of  Scotkad,"  wludi  VI 

U4'«r  1M7.  BAtkn  is  nade  of  the  **  HoBttiai  of  Cberot,"  sad  oT  "  The 
twTKe  aad  BoofiuMrTe  mttT  as  if  these  wvtv  the  titlee  of  tvo  ee|)anL» 
UUmU  That  theee  wt  tvo  di«dDcC  liallada  fended  oa  the  battl*  of 
^nterhoanM,  aad  kaovB  ia  Seotlaad  hj  the  abcyte  titlea,  is  aXrtmAj  pr»> 
t*U«  ;  iut  thoogh,  in  the  .Heottieh  ballad  of  the  **  Battle  of  Otteitwarae  " 
th»  hae  "The  Percy  aad  Moiit^iiMj  ast  *  oema,  the  aaae  of  Chsrkft  tj 
ai^fT  Bestiooed.     Dr.  Percy,  u  qaodaf  ths  abore  liae  froa  the  ^  0>ai- 


;:*tBt  of  Sci'tljukil,''  fHT^  "That  daj.  that  day.  that  ffeatil  dar'^ae  tlr 
'  !«  'vioff  <'Or.  !ot  that   ic  in  fact,  the  title  of  anothrr  ballad  or  vjzjs. 
I*r   iLm^aoIt.     MumwcqI  lUu^traty.ms,  p.  1. 

I  /;«/.';*    /  fjttJT^vrmf.     See  Mr.  I^^^ri  ^Tiiie'i  ftiU  aecoont  of  it,  "ri'Ji  la 

x^imz^Lx  aifi  ula»trmlK4M.     l4/&don,  1857. — F. 

•  1.  7  fr»«  { *A      f -r  WoM  rPo</   Henry  Br-U.     AiyjCher  editK>a.  «t«  M.». 

K  rr*-«a  k.  .•  »  f  p'.  ♦J^o.  of  3y  i'»tf»-«.  -  ChtTj  CT-*^,  %  ba:l^l  lu  L**  •: 
\  «-»»  •  T  H'-rr  Ii»'M.  •rr«>int*tii«^i  bj  the  '.rurnal  En^iUh  TcXL  Lozri.t, 
I*riv^  '*j  H.anr  iJrycr.  liriJgt:  St.  BUkfriai*,  1S18.*' 

•  L  St  1%^/c;  !NKrl*j.-Ch.    (  -  F.  J.  Child.) 

11.  :  m  .1  .rj  «»v«/i'.  *ieTOOii  ckmlt.— CTu  /tfyrf  oa  W«  ( «  a  load;,  u  >k«--it 
'S-.A.:.*.  J,  1  tiiink.  crrtaiD. — Ch. 

II  14S.    ■  wAtcA  frrmci,'  (as   in  Old  Ballads,  1723)  is  eertainly  the  rv^i- 

1€       IM     mjrrf  y^  left  toofvU:  no  d'>u^<  of  dtXffml.  -Ch. 

IT  *  v-»  L«  w  w-t.'A  r»r»'s/»rtr/  nji^i.  Thj«  Torsion  :•  T#-rT  «^^fTr:p<,  siyi  r.f»-r  "T 
•    •-!-?  ;t-.i:«.l  c-py  of  1C4V.     Sw  mr  edition  of  I»Ttiac-.  1861.— U»r..!V 

10  •  U  M.  '■••y*.  Thw  .•  risrtlT  the  n-T#T^-  of  wLit  'he  {--»  n.'  ir.». 
v.:  ▼?•<«•  -  Ilailitt.  Thr  Hfc'ht  bunirn  »•.  •  Kck.w  no  tueii  UUf*.  tut 
' .«  !-£.  «  Uet  ■Ui.as  has  "  lo/'j  »ttt:b  liUztj."— F. 


Ixiv  SOTEsw 

p.  IL  Clyrii.  Se*  cj  r-j^rrrrift:-  c  *:  X.:»  e%e  V**"*^-  Sx^i  Series  riiL  435, and 


p.  St.  1.  J-    Tl*  Ftrrr  Siiir^T  rvjiriLt**;  ti»  cd.iija  of  16S6,  bat  imperfectlj. — 


-.u* 


p.  U,  L  13.  fvdi 

p.  SO,  la  Soxs  p»sw.  &ir-  **  I**^^  saj?.  «^  fiai  ~  Hollow,  my  Fancie : "  bat 
xhtrt  are  17  »:a,uadL  aai  =jl=.t  diMrTrztcts-^  Tbc  lut  9 — incloding  only  the 
I&ft  of  :lo««-  ia  T hr  MS.  viiSe^  ii  aIs*:*  ib^  1a»:;  ia  the  Se^ots  Poems  copy — are 
M:-i  to  bar*  l^^a  -  »?■:  Ij  CV.  •iiel  Ct^liad  uf  my  LatvI  Aogos's  regiment, 
vhen  be  va«  a  fttoieat  ia  u:r  Cullece  -jf  £ii&lnz^  and  18  vears  of  age.** 
— Ch. 

p.  35,  L  S.  1639  a»  the  dare  of  Cakt's  deaih  is  only  eoDJectonL — ^H.  (>- 
W.  C.  HailitL) 

p.  37,  L  6.  1731.  This  CC^i-n  vas  prated  in  1662,  8to.  and  again,  with  some 
changes,  in  1731,  2  rul*.  12mo. — H. 

p.  33.  L  SS.  for  aotV  r»d  timm<  ^:be  idea  is  that  th*-  Lower  Hoase  sinnea  when  it 
dou  iit).- 


p.  39,  n«Ae.  Percy's  Zw  nf-^^  is  of  course  a  i^n*lip  for  LMm^fard.  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  in  a  niXc  t<>  chap.  xx.  of  H'^it^iV-^i-.  gires  another  rcrsion  of  the 
2Dd  verMrof  this  Ballad,  and  an  ai>xiant  ol  Lansfoxd,  but  there  arc  mistakes 
in  it.    Scott's  rersv  is — 

The  post  who  came  frf*m  Corentiy 

Kidinc  in  a  r««l  locket. 
Did  tidincs  ttrlL  how  Lonsford  fell, 

A  childs  hand  in  his  pocket. 

The  same  child-eating  scandal  is  noticed  in  Rump  Surng*,  pt.  i.  p.  65 : 

From  Fii-lding  and  from  Varasoor, 

Both  ill-affivtcd  men ; 
From  Lonsford  eke  delirer  as. 

That  eateth  up  children. 

The  best  account  of  Lunsford  that  I  know  is  in  The  GfntUman^B  Magatinef 
vol.  106,  pt.  i.  3/>0,  602;  pt.  ii.  32.  148;  vol.  107,  pt  i.  265.  Cf.  Hush- 
fturth  HUt.  Col.,  vol  iii.  pt.  i.  p.  459;  Add.  MSS.  1519  1  26,  6358  f.  50^ 
5702  p.  118. 

There  is  an  engraving  among  the  King's  Pamphlets  in  the  British 
MuHeum — I  cannot  give  the  press  mark — representing  Sir  Thomas  Limsfoid 
at  full  length.  In  the  background  is  a  church  in  flames,  and  a  soldier  with 
a  drawn  sword  pursuing  a  woman ;  a  companion  is  catching  another  woman 
by  her  hair.     Lnder  the  engraving  are  these  lines : 

I'll  helpe  to  kill,  to  pillage,  and  destroy 

All  the  opposers  of  the  .^%Iacy. 

My  fortanos  are  grown  small,  my  friends  are  less, 

1*11  venture,  therefore,  life  to  have  redress ; 

Bv  picking,  stealing,  or  by  cutting  throates, 

Although  my  practise  cross  the  kingdom's  votes. 

p.  45, 1.  32,  for  witt  read  woe.—Ch. 

p.  50,  Howfaifre  shee  be.  The  earliest  appearance  of  this  song  of  Withei^s  WM 
in  A  Description  of  Love,  1620 ;  then  again  it  appeared  at  the  end  of  Fw$ 
Virtue  &c.,  1 622,  unless  the  undated  sheet  in  the  Pepysian  Libraiy  be  old«r, 
which  ii  more  than  possible. — Uazlitt 


NOTES.  IxV 

;   ft  I.  S.  rmd  knllyjo^  (hAiidom):  NoC«  the  rliTine.— Ch. 
I  J.  '«ut  f.^Ch. 

;   iS  1  U.  ferer  it  right,  and  Mr.  Cbappell  wrong :  the  rhjrme  ii  with  braines,  not 

afmjrr*  --Ch. 

L  If.  Jr\mtk,  for  rfajme,  as  Percy  8QggMt«. — Ch. 

!  t$.  «lr>p  f/,huit»  metrv  and  tense :  *  will  jou  be  the  taster?*  it  the  mean- 
n^  -fh. 

'.  M.  Kzu«  >■  NaJUM  of  coune :  29,  cojle,  rart. — Ch. 

I  M.  f*yM  should  be  my£r :  compare  1.  2. — D. 

1.  S4.  for  a/  read  tm. — Ch. 

P  Mu  t.  tt  nmi  tcmard :  50.  twor€i. — Ch. 

L  M.  rattX  Cymiki^s  ftilaw,  Mute*'  drere,  i.e.  (Diana's  mate,  darling  of  the 


7   $$.\.7%  ^rtter :  eome  word  like  core  is  want<^. — Ch. 

;  M.  TV  ^rv«r  Kmigkt.  Oaseoigne  the  poet,  when  he  was  on  service  in  the  Low 
<*'rtizitriet.  tells  ns  that  he  acqnired  the  nickname  of  The  Green  Knight 
aad^r  arramstaaora  of  a  peculiar  character. — Hazlitt. 

f  O  I  Ul.  Doce,  Pnrj^s  *0a%  is  wrong. — Ch. 

I  \M,  ih^  thoold  be  thee :  j<m  can  do  nothing  with  the  Sax.  ]^. — Ch. 
I   14t.  147.  md  proyr,     biim  ;  (transpose  the  ;  and  ,). — Ch. 

7  #4  m  b'  had  Mrjfcf  Dothing),  qj.  A^?  (i.e.  so  hare  I  heU). — Ch. 

;    ti  b  <«  4.  rpad  KgiUmom :  hroid  it  well  enough  explained  bj  the  A.- Sax.  btMan, 

:   fT   ;  SM   t«//.  i.''.  caul,  net^work  for  a  lad/s  head.     The  note  on  this  word  it 
x'.**^  /r.m  th^  purpo^.     [So  it  i«].     Compare — 

\'\\T*  *-  ihr  wire*.  rij?ht  lovetom,  white,  and  tmall : 
<1'  r*  ^-  thv  virgrnft.  lu«*tT  under  k^Uyf. 
ly-oii-iii '  thowe  art  the  fl'^wr*-  of  cities  all. 

I>unbar.     Rdiq.  Ant,  i.  206.— F. 
T  *  I  r.*  fi^^xf-nytt^  BrftthfddWi  ir\fe.  not  Sir  Oawnine :  see  it  referred  to  in 
Mfci;*-.  •  ft'  .**.'ry,  to  Syr  Gawaynf,  under  "  kell." — D. 

;   •?   I  tM.  •-••KyA.'  *  were  H>rnr  for,  Sax.  *rr«iirtait. — Ch. 

;   Tl   I  I4t  /»-'.•   -*'.  ajf^rentlT  from  Flinch /iv/i-m*^,  claxh.  dath,  &c. — Ch. 

:  SM  »r^J  r>v    How  ^.«//f  "  l^leeoc"  be  right  ?  To  tay  nothing  of  1.  478.  tli*» 
rf-TO'  rr  j«:n«l  proTt^  it  to  be  wrong. — 1). 


'A.'  t^rmt  t<»  m^  morr  likelj  to  hr  right. — Ch. 

;   T4  ..  4M    ;hr  mrtning  can  hardlj  be   proved  about  Oawaine:  prated  by  is 
r  f  '.r.f/ojfh  bt.  (i«-rfonned  by,  I  should  say. — Ch. 

.    *l   .   441    rl*^     rshtly  explainrd  in  note.     \cA.  h^r  has  the  same  meaning 
%•  'h^  IB  <»    I>.'ng. :  and  lo  Sax.  V^^,  found  only  in  composition.—  Ch. 


T4  4ii.   /A^r  •  •^r,:,d.  a«  inSaz.     So  1.  523.— Ch. 

0  4t      Ik  ^i#ari  th^wtpeake"  ahottldbe  "ft  heard  AiVnspeake."— D.  audCb. 

•I  7t   '4^  .  rby  -  Ch 

1  ■•  IT  O 


Ixvi  NOTES. 

p.  86, 1.  177,  noe  morf,  read  noe  moe, — D. 

p.  88,  1.  811,  smne  spending  money.  The  author  muBt  h&ve  written  something  like 
money  for  spending. — D.     Kead  money  for  ipending. — Ch. 

1.  814,  you  heyrt,  read  your  heyre, — D. 

p.  90, 1.  878,  drop  ^  (caught  from  1.  271  or  268) ;  thereto  makes  sense. — Ch. 

p.  98, 1.  886,  for  said  read  Aarf.— Ch. 

p.  94,  L  ZW.fone  should  he  foe  (unless  in  the  concluding  line  of  the  stann  goe  he 
an  error  for  gone). — D. 

1.  408,  read  ^o[»]f .— Ch. 

p.  98, 1.  688,  other  -  second :  cf.  1.  496.— XIl 

1.  684,  eoe  bee,  read  soe  beene. — D. 

p.  99,  1.  666,  '*  for  to  his  eraue  he  rann  "  ought  manifestly  to  be  "  for  to  his 
ters  graue  he  rann  ' :  compare  L  543. — D. 

I.  667,  read  followed. — Ch. 

p.  104,  L  698,  thither  wold  he  wend,  ?  read  thither  wold  he  right.— V. 

p.  108,  1.  800,  read  rest. — Ch. 

L  807,  why  not  read  shivver  ?  shinvtner  makes  no  sense. — Ch. 

p.  Ill,  1.  896,  noe  more,  read  noe  moe. — D.  and  Ch. 

p.  118,  L  919,  in  the  crye,  an  undoubted  error  for  in  the  stowre. — D. 

p.  118, 1.  964.  was  past f  read  wasgane,  or  gaen  (i.e.  gone). — D. 

p.  117,  L  1048,  read  ivith  thee.— Ch, 

\.  1067, 1  bhould  understand  yeming  as  eager,  &c     It  is  vety 
of  the  noise  of  a  dog  who  wants  a  thing  yery  much. — Ch. 

p.  119, 1.  1186,  for  his  heire,  read  is  neire.—Ch,    I  took  it  for  is  her^. — ^F. 

p.  180, 1.  1166,  read  come.—Ch. 

p.  188,  1. 1808,  busied,  ?  bustled,  made  a  stir,  made  a  "  towre."— Ch. 

1.  1807,  read  f yery  wood?— Ch. 
p.  186, 1.  1800,  read  tnoe.—Ch. 

1.  IZ05,  feelds,  certainly /<!tf*.—D. 

p.  188,  1.  1403,  blithe,  read  bliue  (i.e.  quickly).— D. 

p.  188, 1.  1496,  affrayd  should  be  aghaste — Copland's  ed.  haying  the  right  reading 
in  1.  1494,  wonder  faste,  uid  brast  being  the  final  word  of  1.  1600. — ^D. 

p.  188, 1.  1688,  Sir  MarrocJcee  thi  hight.  If  this  be  right,  it  means  **  they  ciUfd 
him  Sir  Marrock  " :  but  qy.  m  hight  (i.e.  he  was  called)? — D.  Whj  not,  kt 
hight  ?— Ch. 

p.  186,  Gvve  and  Amarant.  This  is  a  portion  of  The  Famous  ketone  qf  (riw  IM^ 
qf  IVartncke,  &c.,  by  S.  Rowlands ;  and  I  cannot  but  think  that  Mr.  F. 
mistakes  the  nature  and  intention  of  it.  Rowlands  is  eyidentlj  imi»y»ii^ 
the  serio-comic  romance  poetry  of  Italy,  a  kind  of  writing  which  has  bsei 
popular  in  that  country,  from  Pulci  down  to  Fortiguerra.---D. 


H0T18  Ixvii 

Jt.    I  dooot  iiiid«riUiidDot«l,  "toraont^.'*— CIl  Paige  263  of  the  BiS.  was 
toni  o«t,  Percy  aaid,  to  tend  Kimg  Ettmert,  which  wms  on  it,  to  presi. — F. 

JV.  L  4i,  rn%H^9 ■•  rwmvr  Am.  of  coiine. — Ch. 

Ji.  L  M,  /Ai#  mtemrd  art,  read  Mu  coward  act. — D. 

4i.  L  Ui.  (proUblj)  dem[a]^.^Ch. 

4i.  1.  IL  Rkf.  "  The  Dake  of  Bockinfffaam's  Idanifiratation  of  Remoiiatranca,  with 
a  hAtnmi  of  hit  Pruct^dingi  in  the  lale  of  Ree,  1627, 4to."  An  unhapmr  View 
of  lb*  whole  Beharionr  of  mj  Lord  Duke  of  Biickin|;ham  at  the  French 
Uland  railed  the  lale  of  Rhee,  dieeorered  by  Colonel  'William  Fleetwood,  an 
a&f«tftiioate  commander  in  that  untoward  tenrioe,  1648.  This  moet  fierce  and 
pTvjoduwd  tfflpearhment  of  an  expedition,  ill  planned  and  nnhappilr  ter- 
■uaated.  is  reprinted  in  the  fifth  Tolnme  of  the  Somera  CoUeetion  <^  TVocto. 
h^wmdta.  Thf^  Emditum  to  the  hU  qf  Rhe,  by  Edward,  Lord  Herbert  of 
(^rtmiy.     Editetl  by  Lord  Powii  for  the  Philobiblon  Soc  I860.— F. 

47.  Ktn^  mni  MdW,  the  firft  knoitem  edition  was  imprinted  at  London,  by 
Ed«wi  Allde  [rirt4  1600].— Haslitt. 

«.  L  1  Rttd  fir  Reere.— Ch. 

M.  L  IM.  rv«d  a  hotts.-^Ch. 

4i.  1.  1.  for  u  rtmd  It  is, 

!.  S.  f  w  dtflnrm  rrad  d^rrmt. 

n  L  IS  1 

^  1  7S  I  ^'^^^  ^  eridently  the  right  reading,  as  the  metre  shows. — Ch. 

Ml  I  iT.  cW  t4Ut,  read  at  last.—V. 

Tt.  zho  Last  line  of  noten,  kmrms  should  be  harms. — D. 

I  lit  Id  Rrmrr.  ix.  317-18.  ii  Robert  Wsterton's  petition  to  be  repaid 
•i*  ^^'m  ',{  thr  Ihike  of  York,  and  thf  prisoners  (1)  Count  de  Ewe,  (2) 
A-.. -r  -i'  Br*-Mttrn« ,  i'A)  W  MnivfH'hall  Hucheoaud.  Perron  de  Liipe,  and 
I  ..r  .!•■  >••**•■.  \h*"^-  3.  Mt  ^.  2'<.  4<i.  a  day,  and  othfr  travelling  cx- 
:•  -  •  •      A*  r    334.  I{ym*r.  ix,  srv  "  lk'«U.  curtains,  &c.  for  tho  Dukes  of 

•  •     !>•  •  \r.  :  r.'..r*«'n.  Jit  Ulth.im.  the  Towi-rof  I^)ndon,  Westminster.  Wiml- 

•  •    %:.l  «i,»ir*^  •■•h»  r  j»'i;i4e«.'*     p.  300  i».,  de  Domino  de  Lyne,  prisonaris. 

r" 

T4,  '    *».-^n^.     <'omf«rtr<»    7^^  Hr^^kr    in  Mrrttr  of  /{/J^in    Omuimrf,  ?  tiXtoxii 

:  /r  a:.!  AIM*  •  »»ii:i'»n  Uf«»r*»  ir>(»0.  priijte<l  in  Ilalliwell's  C"/ifrihuiionf 
'  .•--■,  ^>-''*>^  lA*'-rtt'un,  1H|9.  ."ind  with  4  additional  >tanzap  inllazlitt's 
f  -".  /';u'.  •-  I'-^.'n/.  lii,  '2'2\.  ('"nipan*  aI^o  A  ptrrr  of  Frutr  liacons 
i'  .-'.  ^' . ."j  l^r-j.K'AUf.  lt;o|,  nVny  SK'irty.  1844.)  I^iuderV  p<Hm  on 
'%^  .\  *wr/  ■  •*  .*v  ■*//<»».//  tvfrhnuj  (hf  Jnt* rtatnni*-nt  of  virtrwujt  mm  that 
'  -*«'i  /.'•.  kfs.  A'- .  a:.d  Martin  I'ark^Tt*  liiJnn  Omiwirm^,  or  ConnoionaMe 
K^      r.       H'.»   I*r»/r»-*M'  th^iniw  Court,  City,  and  C«»untn-y:  with  his  bad 

•  a'*'r*«,r.»i.*Rt  at  ••a*  h  M'\»'n»Il  j«hi<*e.  Very  pleasant  and  merry  to  beo  read. 
1*  .-.••.---    r  Hju:ii*b  \,\  M.  P. 

Chart  :•■'•  rr»ld,  mon?»  heartn  are  hanl. 
Arvd  Hi'M  d'j«»rt««  a^Rin<»t  Cjnvi«'noe  hanl. 

I^.'  :   -   \*.V>    Kif.  .  11  If^av.t.  liffitftiH.     (Hurton'f  l^K-k^i  Iltuiitt's  lian/i- 

M       4f   rm,\  t^r.*^'      Ch 

»■   2 


Ixviii  NOTES. 

p.  188, 1.  104,  aore  should  be  dropped  and  the  line  not  indented :  tore  is  evidently 
caught  from  the  line  above. — Ch. 

p.  190,  Harl.  MS.  4843  (paper).  Article  11  is  "Anno  Domtni  millesimo  coezlvi 
die  Martis,  in  vigilia  Lucse  Evangolistee,  hora  Matu/tna  ix.  commissmn 
fuit  bellum  inter  Anglos  et  Scotos  non  longe  a  Dimelmia,  in  loco  ubi  nunc 
Stat  crux  vulgariter  dictus  Nevillcrosse  **  Poema  rhythmicum,  [leaf]  241. 
HaH,  Ckital, 

p.  191, 1.  8,  hearken  to  me  a  litle  [while  ?]— Ch. 

p.  199,  1.  246,  read  brother^  ("  to  the  King  of  ffirance  "  is  a  marginal  gloss). — Ch. 

L  246,  &c.,  brothers  should  be  brother;  and  the  words  to  the  King  rf 
ffrance  is  a  gloss  crept  into  the  text. — D. 

p.  200,  last  line  but  two  of  note,  for  63-6  read  63-8.  (Durham  Feilde  is  likely 
enough  by  the  author  of  Flodden  Field). — Ch. 

p.  201,  See  the  "  Biscendants  from  Quy,  Earl  of  Warwick ;  i.e.  of  the  family  of 
Arden  of  Parke-Hall  in  Com.  Warwic.  who  were  indeed  descended  from  the 
Great  Turchil,  who  lived  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest."  Harl.  MS.  858, 
leaf  113.  Mr.  Halliwell  in  his  Descriptive  Notices  of  Early  Englisk  His- 
tories, p.  47-8,  says  of  the  story  of  Guy :  "  This  tale  was  dramatized  early 
in  the  17th  century,  and  Taylor  mentions  having  seen  it  acted  at  the 
Maidenhead  of  Islington."  "  After  supper  we  had  a  play  of  the  life  and 
death  of  Guy  in  Warwicke,  played  by  the  Hight  Honourable  the  Earle  of 
Barbie  his  men."  Penniksse  Pilgrimage^  ed.  1630,  p.  140."  Dr.  Rimbanlt 
prints  the  tune  of  the  ballad  at  p.  46-7  of  his  Musical  Illustrations,  from 
the  Ballad  Opera  of  "  Robin  Hood,"  performed  at  Lee  and  Harper's  Booth 
in  1730.  The  ballad,  he  says,  "was  entered  on  the  Stationers^ books,  5th 
January,  1591-2.**— F. 

p.  202, 1.  87,  the  grave  is  a  ridiculous  blunder  for  the  cave, — D. 

1.  47,  ingrauen  in  Mold  should  be  ingrauen  ins  tone.    Here  the  scribe 
repeated  by  mistake  the  word  Mold  from  the  first  line  of  the  stanza. — ^D. 

p.  208,  last  line  but  4,  read  "  Ma»gertoun." — Ch. 

p.  208, 1.  6  from  foot.  Nephew  to  the  Laird  of  Mangertoun  (misprinted  Maxger- 
toun).  This  reference  to  the  nephew  of  the  Lord  of  Mangerton,  the  chief 
of  the  Armstrongs,  leads  to  the  inference  that  the  circumstances  on  which 
the  ballad  is  founded  had  occurred  previous  to  the  rescue  of  William  Arm* 
strong  of  Kinmont,  as  Sir  Hichard  Maitland  was  bom  in  1496,  and  died  at 
the  Advanced  age  of  ninety,  on  the  2()th  of  March,  1586.  Jock,  in  1569, 
gave  protection  to  the  Countess  of  Northumberland,  after  the  unfortunate 
rising  and  defeat  of  her  husband  and  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland,  when 
they  were  both  compelled  to  fiy  from  England.  After  an  ansaoeesBftil 
attempt  to  take  refuge  in  Liddesdale,  they  were  compelled  to  put  themaelTes 
under  the  protection  of  the  Armstrongs  of  the  Debateabie  land.  The 
Countess,  who  did  not  accompany  them,  her  tire-woman  and  ten  other 

Sersons  who  wore  with  her,  were  unscrupulously  despoiled  by  the  Liddet- 
ale  reivers  of  their  horses,  so  that  the  poor  lady  was  left  on  foot  at  John 
of  the  Side's  house,  a  cottage  not  to  be  compared  to  many  a  dog-kennel  in 
England."  Maidment's  Scotish  Ballads,  i.  182-3.  Maidment  also  gives  the 
ballad  oi  Hobbie  NoUe  at  p.  191,  showing  how  he  was  betrayed  into  the 
hands  of  his  enemies  by  the  Armstrongs,  whose  Jock  he  had  rescued. — F. 

p.  204, 1.  4,  he  is  gone,  read  he  is  gone  or  gaen  (i.e.  gone). — D. 

I.  6,  (of  Maitland)  read  ane  for  and. — Ch. 


vcns^  Ixix 


fi  ttT,  L  14,  A«#  twdtimJ^  rmd  had  fwmwrf.— D. 

L  IM,  /Smv  MCflw  to  be  an  error  for  iy$, — D, 
L  ISt, .  alW  JM."— Ch. 


L  tt<  for  iMtf  iwd  «Mm  ?  (Percy  hM  (oM,  but  that  reeding  is  not  likely 
ta  thie  Engliah  belled).— Ch. 

ft.  tti^  Bote  i,  "end  idmi^    Periiepe  io ;  but  in  old  ballade  and  ie  eometimes 
redeadaaL — D. 


p  nT.  L  Mi»  tmfoMl  fmrnm^  read  9o$fagt  rmn, — D. 


A.  Mi,  L  M^  «tU  $memrm  m  hrui,    Thia,  of  eoaree,  ahoald  be  with  nearu  in 
.—D.    (?-F.) 


L  M, .  after  "  iBg^f—Cfa. 


p.  Sn,  Aeftr  •/*  Bfindl,  There  are  eereral  plays  on  thie  subject.  The  earlieet 
M  71#  BUmd  BMOor  rf  Bediud-Greem,  with  the  merrv  humor  of  Tom 
8tromd  tkt  SarfJk  Ywrnam,  as  it  was  divers  times  mMeldy  acted  by  the 
Finmees  Strfrnmie,  WritUm  by  John  Day,  1669,  4to.  The  latest  was  l^  my 
trumd  Shendaa  Knovlee.— D. 


p  ttt,  I.  ft,  for  sAtsar,  read,  as  in  the  next  stanza,  shoone, — D. 


f.  tn,  L  if,  firnm,  I  prefer  vim  as  a  comption  of  point,  as  in  *'  He*s  but 
cae  fin  abore  a  aatnraL      Cartwright     Cf.  onr  nee  of  peg. 

The  celendar,  right  glad  to  find 
His  friend  in  merry  pin. 

John  Oilpin.^Skeat. 

p  iii.  L  4i.  waidsd.  Snrsly  the  context,  "  nnle  "  and  "  greene  "  and  "  black." 
sbove  that  **«MHiiM''shoald  be  "m/c£<'*(i.e.  pale  blue).— D.  (?  woadc^. 
-F.) 

(   Hi.  1.  li.  mmme.     Uerr,  to  be  consistent,  we  most  read  sonne\^t\, — D. 

p   Hi.  1.  70.  "  tcarifit  and  rrddT  a  blunder  for  *' Scarlett  redd:'—D. 

;   ili.  I.  iOO,  <;f4fs  ,  of  cour^.  "  giostn  "  frhouW  l«  ''  giufts""  (gifle).— D. 


*•  iTt  i«  n«>w  Vat  a  »i'jk  clout,  as  you  may  m.h*.'*  The  note  on  this  line 
*•  •trar  j»-It  wnini?.  "  A  n^/k  dnut  "  i»  a  clout  for  fighing  (or,  more  pro- 
^«r'.T.  nnrngi,  i.e.  utiaioiog   milk. — D.     I   only  know   siting   for  strain- 

I  St.  (jf  fjtv,  ?  reaii  ht  taints  (i.e.  coocealii). — I). 

i41.  .*Wr  Egl*tm^tr.  "Sir  F^lamore  "  muM  have  been  originally  written  in 
N'jTtiirm  rmih'-r  than  in  Soulhfm  Knffli««h,  as  appearn  fn>ni  internal  evi- 
^Ui^r^.  W*-  fiiui  iijnumfrablo  nrae*  which  are  no  rimen,  but  which  b^-como 
•r.  %t  «>o«-«  when  tran*Uted  into  a  Northumbrian  dialect.  Is  it  not  cit'ur 
tijkt  •»  h  nm<ft  a*  takrtk  an<l  g^fth  f«h<ml<l  l>e  tai*  au<l  gais?  That  for  fane 
iLz,t  '^*^  we  >houl«l  r»*aii  tarn  and  fxtnr  ?  So,  [ly*,  n^rr  (riming  ti>  trrrr)  ou^ht 
t  ^*  ^ec  lH^m^:k  an^i  rltff*  ohoulil  be  t/rtfis  ami  ciifi*.  Jhrtr  and  IfUt/he 
^\gt'*i  .  •houlil  U'  drru'-k  and  Irurk.  Af>"<ir  n»u?»t  !><•  afmut,  if  it  is  t<»  rim« 
w.ri,  f«.i./<'  «'jr  i<i<im/i.  Antl  Anally.  a«»  a  crucial  instance,  it  is  alinont 
;&'•••.?  U  ?M  f*-lirTe  that  lhr/«/«r  vord«  in  r^tanza  7'» — ^/o*.  rvi*/*.  ir<ij»,  and 
'  '«''A  wrn*  m^t  int#nd«i  to  nm«  t<^ether  in  th#»  forms  /hm.  ras,  vra*,  and 
.lis  '.r  ftu      To  Like  one  more  case,  for  rrst,  tru4t,  cast,  and  last  (st.  4  i,  n*ail 


IxX  NOTES. 

rest^  trUt,  kest^  lest.  And  when  we  fnrther  observe  that  the  rimes  may  be 
thus  emended  throughout  the  whole  poem^  surely  the  inference  that  it  was  of 
Northern  origin  becomes  almost  a  certainty. — okeat. 

p.  848,  1.  W,  for  "  &  show  your  hart  &  love,"  ?  read  " —  hart  and  lore  her 
to  "  ?— D. 


'In  these  lines,  mare  should  be  mair. — D. 


p.  844, 1.  98,  \ 

p.  845, 1.  182, 

p.  858, 1.  820, 

p.  855, 1.  408,; 

p.  859, 1.  505,  for  home  read  hame. — D. 

p.  867, 1.  702,  head.  There  the  rhyme  determines  that  for  "head"  we  must  sub- 
stitute the  A.-S.  heved. — D. 

p.  869, 1.  766,  for  yedde  read  yode  (not,  as  Percy  says,  yeede). — D. 

p.  869,  A  Cauileere.  See  Qervase  Markham's  chapter  "  Of  Hawking  with  all  sorts 
of  Hawkes,"  &c.,  in  his  Cmmlrey  Contentments,  1615,  Bk.  I,  p.  87-97.  "  The 
pleasure  of  hawking  .  .  is  a  most  Princely  and  serious  delight** — F. 

p.  878, 1.  856,  for  rose  read  rase. — D. 

p.  882, 1.  1119,  for  jnore  read  moe. — D. 

p.  884, 1.  1117,  for  went  hee  read  hee  gone. 

p.  887,  note  1.  As  the  true  reading  is  undoubtedly  " man"  why  say  anything 
about  the  meaning  of  "  May*'? — D. 

p.  888, 1.  1285,  for  dwdl  read  v>end.—D. 

p.  B90,  The  Emperour  and  the  ChUde,  or  Valentine  &  Orson.  See  Halliwell*s 
Descriptive  Notices,  1848,  p.  29-t30,  as  to  the  Bomance,  and  the  proM  story. 

p.  401, 1.  12,  "  that  ginnye  his  ffilly  wold  haue  her  owne  will."  Here  "  Gmng^ 
is  the  name  of  "  his  ffilly.**    If  the  MS.  has  "  grimye,**  it  is  an  error. — D. 

p.  419, 1.  106,  for  young  read  ying. — D. 

p.  482, 1.  489,  "  &;  said,  Cozen  will ! 

who  hath  done  to  you  this  shame  ?  '* 

Here  "  will  **  sounds  very  ridiculously,  as  if  the  3  knights  were  using  the 
familiar  abbreviation  of  their  cousin's  name !  Read  undoubtedly  (com- 
paring  Kit8on*8  text  of  the  passage), 

"  &  said.  Cozen  William, 
who  hath  done  to  you  this  shame  ?  " — D. 

p.  454,  L  1078,  "  both  old  &  young.**    "i  in   both    places  "  young  **  should   be 
p.  496, 1.  2228,  "  both  old  and  young.**  J  "y»«^."— fi. 

p.  498,  note  1.  Wivre.  See  a  drawing  of  one  at  p.  9  of  the  Bestiaire  etAmomr  of 
Richard  de  Foumival,  Paris,  1860 ;  and  Mons.  Hippeau*s  note  at  p.  108-4. 
— F. 

p.  500,  Childe  Maurice.  See  R.  Jamieson*s  notes  to  this  ballad  in  his  i\)p.  Bof. 
and  Songs,  i.  16-21.— F. 


N0TE8.  Ixxi 

f.  Mf .  I.  M.  mmi  drytd  U  om  the  ^roMm,    Jamieton  comparM 

Horn  gmn  hi«  iwerd  gripe 
Ant  €m  kis  arm  kit  wype : 
The  Sansyn  he  hit  my. 
That  hit  hed  (el  to  js  to. 

Riteon'i  Met,  Rom.  rol  ii.  p.  116.— F. 

f.  Mi.  L  117.  wtektd  he  wty  mgrry  men  aU.  Jamieton  compares  with  this  the  last 
I  sUnas  of  little  Mnsgiare  (i.  122,  note) :  "  Woe  worth  yon,  woe  worth 
mj  mtrrj  men  all,**  and  sajs,  **  The  same  kind  of  remonstrance  with  those 
aboat  him  oefon  in  Le«*s  tragedy  of  'Alexander  the  Qreat'  after  the 
m«fder  of  ClitoSb"  Most  men  want  to  pot  their  sins  on  other  people*s 
sbo«ldsn.— F. 

f  9KL  the  sstraet  froa  Laas^s  MS.  HarL  6243,  is  only  his  address  to  the  reader, 
before  his  Poem  oo  Ony. — F. 

f,  nt,  1.  IM.  for  motme  read  *«  noone  /•jm."    (Compare,  <mU,  p.  468, 1. 1441,— 

*'  ifro :  the  bower  of  prims 
till  it  was  emamsom^  dime.'*) — P. 

I  I  MO,  for  Ihert  read  tkor9,—D. 


pk.  #41,  L  Mt.  Tliere  is  a  chnveh  in  Winchester  called  St.  Swithin's,  which  is 
meffvly  a  laise  room  orer  the  archway  of  King's  Ghite,  bat  it  has  no  pre- 
Urmtiftmm  to  toe  aatiqaitT  mentioned  in  your  letter.  The  sword  and  axe 
of  tJbe  fiaat  were  pfobably  ordered  to  be  hnnc  np  in  the  cathedral  church, 
which  was  origiasJly  dedicated  under  the  title  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul ; 
\m.  tbe  body  of  St.  Swithin  baring  been  transferred  from  tbe  chnrchyard 
i«io  tJbe  fmnptaoos  shrine  bnilt  for  its  reception,  the  cathedral  from  thence- 
forth down  to  the  time  of  Henry  VUL  was  distinguished  ^the  name  of 
SmiUkm,  and  this  is  no  doabt  the  church  alliued  to. — Walter  Bailey. 


^  iTi.  L  Mi.  JtAm  d€  Rmm.  The  mention  of  the  galliafd  here,  a  dance  not  intro- 
dorM  into  Eoi^Iaod  till  about  1541,coDfinn8  what  the  language  shows,  that 
oar  Tem<io  of  the  puem  is  a  late  one. — F. 

f  Mf  I  iM.  On  Lkapt,  tee  Wedgwood's  Diet.  i.  321. 


Bt0l)op  0eres'0  folio  jn^. 

Ballaliiel  aitH  SU)mattrn(. 


Tinz  are  two  principal  versions  of  this  well-known  ballad — 
Uk  old,  aiicl  a  modem  one.  The  copy  preserved  in  the  Folio  is 
a  •li^tlv  various  form  of  the  latter. 

Th<f  oldt-irt  copy  of  the  old  version  is  preserved  in  a  MS.  in 
tine  A.^hmolean  Collection  at  Oxford.  This  was  printed  by 
Heame,  in  1719,  in  the  Prefece  to  his  edition  of  Gulielmiis 
N-nr.r:^»-ii.Mf».  ^To  the  MS.  copy/'  pays  Percy,  "  is  subjoined  tlu* 
i.^L,'-  •  f  thtr  author,  Rychard  SheaU*  [expliceth  (pioth  Rychanl 
'**»'*.V  :  »h"m  Hearn»-  had  so  little  judj^eineiit  lus  to  supponc  to 
'-  !h-  -:»Hi«'  ^ith  a  K.  Sht^al,  who  was  living  in  1588."  Thr 
X'^-ril  •  haract^-r  of  tht-  lan^iage,  if  there  were  no  other  proof, 
]f  ••-*  T/..it  the  hallad  i>  of  a  niudi  earlier  date  than  1588  ;  l)ut 
y  -i*r  Iv  ll^.int*'  iti  ri^'ht  in  identifyin;;  tliesuhserilxKl  "K.  Slieah" 
•  •J.  ?r.<-  »ell-known  laillad-sinp-r  of  that  name,  who  flourislnd. 

f '..•  r»  tnily  withere<!,  in  th»\  rti^n  <»f  i^iieen  Kliwibeth.  This 
Vr*l#-  na^   in   ^^ni**  Mirt  tlie  la*»t    of  the    ininstrelH.     There  art' 

'.  '4-  ;r:.''^\  (\.'A">U'U  nt  < 'M  <  Jl.t-^TMW  8^  1  7  17. — WAii  h  in  f' ruarkal  1. 
•"*  *  >  "iT  \  .  I  J'.  1«»M.  N'>  xir.  f.r  lh«-  ^illul  rdrnijtioiiH  ii.a.lf  in  uM 
*«     r*»     }.»».:  1^*      lu     U\*'     Mrtiv.n        \*    I'a**a^'»H     wAuh     r<»iutr!i     tin-     lu.- 


2  CHECT   CHA21E. 

extant  some  lines  of  his,  of  very  inferior  merit,  wherein  he 
l>ewail9  his  miserable  condition.  He  narrates  with  many  sighs 
and  groans  how  he  has  been  robbed,  left  destitute,  and  no  man 
gave  unto  him.  Certainly,  if  these  lines  are  a  fair  specimen  of 
his  talents,  one  cannot  wonder  that  he  found  the  world  somewhat 
cold.  And  certainly  the  author  of  those  lines  could  never  have 
written  "  The  Hunting  of  the  Cheviot."  But  he  may  have  sung 
it  many  and  many  a  time,  and  passed  with  many  an  audience  for 
the  author.  And  hence,  perhaps,  the  subscription  of  his  name  to 
the  Ashmolean  copy.  The  ballad  in  his  time  was  extensively 
popidar.  Sir  Philip  Sidney  refers  to  it  in  a  well-known 
passage  (though,  as  Prof.  Child  suggests,  it  is  not  impossible 
that  he  may  mean  the  "  Battle  of  Otterboume  "),  as  commonly 
sung  by  "  blind  crowders."  ilany  years  before  Sidney  wrote  his 
Defence  of  Poetry^  the  Complaint  of  Scotland,  written  in  1548, 
speaks  of  "  The  Huntis  of  Chevot,*'  and  quotes  the  line. 

That  day,  that  day,  that  gentill  day, 

which  is  apparently  a  memory-quotation,  or  perhaps  a  Scotch 
version  of 

That  day,  that  day,  that  dredfiill  day. 

This  evidence  of  its  popularity  in  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  coupled  with  the  antiquity  of  the  language  (though 
much  of  that  "antiquity"  belongs  to  the  dialect  in  which, 
rather  than  to  the  time  at  which,  it  was  written),  justify  the 
assigning  of  the  ballad  to  the  fifteenth  century. 

This  ballad  is  historically  highly  valuable  for  the  picture  it 
gives  of  Border  warfare  in  its  more  chivalrous  days,  when 
ennobled  by  generosity  and  honour.  The  hewing  and  l^M^lriiig 
lose  their  horrors  in  the  atmosphere  of  romance  thrown  around 
them.  And  the  main  incidents  of  the  piece  are  no  douht 
generally  tnie. 

Such  fierce  collisions  as  here  represented  must  often  have 


CHEUT  CHASB.  3 

oecurred,  and  from  the  same  cause  here  given.  ^  It  was  one  of 
the  Laws  of  the  Marches  frequently  renewed  between  the  two 
nations,  that  neither  party  should  hunt  in  the  other^s  borders 
without  leave  from  the  proprietors  or  their  deputies.^  This 
permission  the  high-spirited  Borderer  was  not  always  disposed  to 
mak.  He  did  not  care  to  beg  for  favours.  He  would  make  no 
•ecret  of  his  purposed  sport,  so  that  if  the  warden  of  the  March 
about  to  be  trespassed  upon  chose  to  oppose  him,  he  was  not 
prevented  from  doing  so  by  ignorance  of  his  intention.  In  this 
wmj  the  proclamation  of  a  hunting  expedition  across  the  Borders 
WBB  in  reality  a  challenge  to  a  contest.  An  excellent  illustration 
of  the  perpetual  possibility  of  an  encounter,  which  attended  and 
jeoommended  these  defiant  expeditions,  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Memoirs  of  Carey,  Earl  of  Monmouth,  Carey  was  Warden  of 
tbe  Marches  in  Queen  Mary's  time,  and  gives  the  following 
account : 

**  There  had  been  an  ancient  custom  of  the  borders,  when 

tliey  were  at  quiet,  for  the  opposite  border  to  send  the  warden  of 

the  Middle  Marche,  to  desire  leave  that  they  might  come  into 

the  borders  of  England,  and  hunt,  with  their  greyhounds  for 

deer,   towards  the   end   of  summer,  which   was  denied   them. 

Towards  the  end  of  Sir  John  Foster's  government,  they  would, 

without  asking  leave,  come   into   England  and  bunt  at   their 

jiessurej  and  stay  their  own  time.     I  wrote  to  Famehurst,  the 

warden  over  against  me,  that  I  was  no  way  willing  to  hinder 

them  of  their  accustomed  sports ;  and  that  if,  according  to  the 

ancient  custom,  they  would  send  to  me  for  leave,  they  should 

liaTe  all  the  contentment  I  could  give  them  ;  if  otherwise,  they 

would  continue  their  wonted  course,  I  would  do  my  best  to 

Under  them.     Within  a  month  after,  they  came  and  hunted  as 

Hbej  used  to  do,  without  leave,  and  cut  down  wood,  and  carried 

it  away.     Towards  the  end  of  summer,  they  came  again  to  their 

wonted  sports.     I  sent  ray  two  deputies  with  all  the  speed  they 

« 

B    2 


■*  CHEUT   CHA5E. 

could  make,  and  thej  tixik  aloug  with  them  such  gentlemen  as 
wrri'  in  t}ifir  >\av,  with  niv  fortv  horse,  and  about  one  o'clock 
t!.t'V  came  up  to  thein,  and  set  upon  them.  Some  hurt  was 
done,  l.ut  I  gave  e«pecial  order  they  should  do  as  little  hurt^  and 
she«l  as  little  ]ilot:Kl  as  possible  they  could.  Tlieytook  a  dozen  of 
the  principal  ir»Mitlemen  that  were  there,  and  brought  them  to  me 
to  Witheringtoii,  where  I  then  lay ;  I  made  them  welcome,  and 
\p\ye  them  the  liest  entertainmeut  I  could;  they  lay  in  the  castle 
two  or  three  days,  and  so  I  sent  them  home,  they  assuring  me 
that  they  wiiukl  never  hunt  again  without  leave.  The  Scots  king 
complained  to  (Jueen  Elizabeth  very  grievously  of  this  fact." 

'*  .Mr.  Addison,  in  his  celebrated  criticism  on  that  ancient 
ballad  of  CIkvv  Chasf,  Sped.  No.  20,  mistakes  the  ground  of  the 
quarrel.  It  was  not  any  particular  animosity  or  deadly  feud 
between  the  two  principal  actors,  but  was  a  contest  of  privilege 
anil  jurisdiction  between  them,  respecting  their  offices,  as  lords 
wardens  of  the  inarches  assigned.''  Extract  from  the  Report  of 
Sir  Thomas  Carlton,  of  Carlton  Hall,  1547,  in  Hutchinson's 
Il'sfory  of  Cinnhrrlawl,  pp.  28-9. 

The  general  spirit  of  the  ballad  then  is  historical.  But  the 
details  are  not  authentic.  "  That  which  is  commonly  sung  of  the 
Hunting  of  Cheviot,"  says  Godscroft,  writing  in  his  James  VL's 
time,  and  apparently  referring  to  a  version  of  the  ballad  then 
circulating  in  Scotland,  "  seemeth  indeed  poetical  and  a  mere 
fiction,  perhaps  to  stir  up  virtue  ;  yet  a  fiction  whereof  there  is 
no  mention,  either  in  Scottish  or  English  Chronicle."  An  event 
to  which  it  might  possibly  refer  according  to  Collins,  in  his 
reeragey  was  the  Battle  of  Pepperden,  fought  in  1436,  as  Hector 
Boethiiis  infonns  us,  "  not  far  from  the  Cheviot  hills,  between  the 
Earl  of  Northum])erland,  and  Earl  William  Douglas  of  Angus, 
with  a  small  army  of  about  four  tliousand  men  each,  in  which 
the  latter  had  the  advantage.  As  this  seems  to  have  been  a 
private  conflict  between  these  two  great  chiefVains  of  the  Borders, 


CHEUT   CHASE.  5 

^  rather  than  a  national  war^  it  has  been  thought  to  have  given 
Z'  rise  to  the  celebrated  old  ballad  of  Chevy  Chase ;  which  to  render 
it  more  pathetic  and  interesting,  has  been  heightened  with 
tragical  incidents  wholly  fictitious.^  But  in  any  case  these  were 
great  Border  names.  Percy  and  Douglas  were  typical  chieftains. 
Moreover  on  the  field  of  Otterboume  a  Percy  and  a  Douglas  had 
fought  fiercely  together^  man  against  man,  under  very  similar 
circumstances.  That  field  was  much  celebrated  in  Border  poetry, 
and  elsewhere.  The  ballad  on  the  Hunting  of  the  Cheviot, — 
borrowed  largely  from  that  on  the  Battle  of  Otterboume, — was, 
in  fact,  in  course  of  time  believed  to  celebrate  the  same  event. 
Observe  these  lines  of  it : 

This  was  the  Hontynge  of  the  Cheyiat ; 

That  tear  began  this  spam : 
Old  men  that  knowen  the  grownde  well  yenough ; 

Call  it  the  Battell  of  Otterburn. 

This  attempt  made  at  the  identification  of  two  actions  is 
noticeable.  We  are  afraid  that  the  "  old  men "  scarcely  knew 
the  ground  well  enough.  Otterboume  is  but  some  30  miles  from 
Newcastle.  Douglas  met  Percy,  the  "  Hunting "  tells  us,  in 
Teviotdale.  In  a  word,  the  two  ballads  represent  two  difi*erent 
features  of  the  old  Border  life — the  Raid  and  the  defiant  Hunt. 
But  they  had  much  in  common,  and  so  were  soon  confused 
together. 

Of  the  battle  of  Otterboume,  fought  in  1388,  there  are 
historical  accounts  in  abundance — Fordun's,  Froissart's,  Holin- 
shed's,  Godscroft's.  See  Minstrelsy  of  tfte  Scottish  Border.  Of 
the  ballad  concerning  it — whose  account  is  mainly  accurate — 
indeed  the  facts  somewhat  trammel  the  poet's  wings, — there  are 
three  versions :  the  English  one,  given  by  Percy  in  his  Reliques, 
from  a  Harl.  MS.  in  the  earlier  editions,  from  a  more  perfect 
Cotton  MS.  (Cleop.  iv.  f.  64)  in  the  fourth,  and  two  Scotch  ones, 
to  be  found,  one  in  the  Minstrelsy^  the  other  in  Herd's  Scottish 


6  CHEUT  CHASE. 

Songs.  The  differences  between  the  English  and  Scotch  versions 
are  such  £w  might  be  expected — are  of  a  patriotic  kind.  The 
main  difference  between  the  two  Scotch  versions  relates  to  the 
death  of  Douglas. 

Of  the  versions  of  **the  Hunting  of  the  Cheviat,"  that  preserved 
in  the  Folio  is^  as  we  have  said^  the  modernised  one ;  not  that 
heard  by  Sidney,  who  calls  what  he  heard  "the  rude  and  ill- 
apparelled  song  of  a  barbarous  age ; ''  a  description  not  applicable 
to  the  present  version.  When  this  modernisation  was  made, 
cannot  be  said  exactly.  ^^That  it  could  not  be  much  later  than 
Queen  Elizabeth's  time,"  says  Percy,  "  appears  from  the  phrase 
*  doleful  dumps ; '  which  in  that  age  carried  no  ill  sound  with  it, 
but  to  the  next  generation  became  ridiculous.  We  have  seen  it 
pass  uncensured  in  a  sonnet  that  was  at  that  time  in  request,  and 
where  it  could  not  fail  to  have  been  taken  notice  of,  had  it  been 
the  least  exceptionable  [in  "  a  song  to  the  lute  in  Musicke  "  from 
the  Paradise  of  Daintie  Deuises,  1596],  yet  in  about  half  a 
century  after,  it  was  become  burlesque.  Vide  Hudibras,  Pt,  i. 
c.  iii.  V.  95."  Its  presence  in  the  Folio  MS.  shows  that  it  was  not 
made  later  than  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It 
soon  became  the  current  version.  Addison  in  his  o^Hque  in  the 
Spectator  knows  of  no  other.  A  comparison  of  it  with  the  old 
versions  will  show,  besides  one  or  two  verbal  blunders,  that  much 
of  its  vigour  has  been  lost  in  the  process  of  translation. 

Of  all  our  ballads  this  perhaps  has  enjoyed  the  widest  popu- 
larity, both  North  and  South  of  the  Tweed.  This  popularity  has 
scarcely  ever  decayed.  It  was  translated  into  rhyming  Latin 
verses  by  a  Mr.  Wold  of  New  College,  Oxford,  at  the  instance  of 
Dr.  Compton,  Bishop  of  London,  in  1685. 

Vivat  Rex  nost^r  nobilis, 

Omnis  in  tuto  sit; 
Venutus  olim  flebib's 

Chevino  luco  fit. 

It  circulated  on  many  a  broad   sheet.     It  was  eulogised  in 


'4 


CHEUT  CHASE. 


he  Spectator  in  Queen  Aone's  reign.  It  was  printed  wherever 
inything  of  the  kind  was  printed  in  the  succeeding  years,  when 
mch  things  were  held  in  but  slight  esteem.  It  is  as  it  were  the 
[^pic  of  Border  poetry. 


(jOD  Prosper  long  our  noble  King, 

our  lifies  &  saftyes  all ! 
a  woefidl  hunting  once  there  was 
4         in  Cheuy  Chase  befall. 

to  driue  the  deere  with  hound  and  home 

Erie  Pearcy  took  the  way  : 
the  Child  may  rue  that  is  ynbome 
8         the  hunting  of  that  day  ! 


[page  188] 


A  woeful 
bunt  was 
beldin 
Chevy 
Chase. 


Earl  Percy 


12 


the  stout  Erie  of  Northumberland 
a  Yow  to  god  did  make, 

his  pleasure  in  the  Scottish  woods 
3  somtners  days  to  take  ; 


vowed  to 
kill  Scotch 
deer  for 
three  days. 


the  eheefest  harts  in  Cheuy  C[h]a8e 

to  kill  &  beare  away, 
these  ty dings  to  Erie  douglas  came 
16  in  Scottland  where  he  Lay, 

who  sent  Erie  Pearcy  present  word 

he  wold  prevent  his  sport, 
the  English  Erie,  not  fearing  that,* 
20  did  to  the  woods  resort 


Douglas 


gaid  he'd 
stop  that 
gport. 

But  Percy 

went  to  his 
hunt 


24 


with  1500  *  bowmen  bold, 

all  chosen  men  of  Might, 
who  knew  flTull  well  in  time  of  neede 

to  ayme  their  shafts  arright. 


with  1500 
bowmen, 


•  this.— P. 


^  2000.— P. 


8 


CHEUT  CHASE. 


and  on 
Monday 
twgmnhSt 
hnnt. 


By  noon  100 
bodu  are 
■lain. 

After 
dinner,  they 


bant  again, 


and  the  hills 
echo  their 
crieA. 


the  Gallant  Greyhound  '  swifUy  ran 

to  Chase  the  fallow  deere ; 
on  Mnndaj  they  began  to  hunt 
88         ere  '  daylight  did  appears ; 

&  long  before  high  noone  th6  had 

a  100  fatbackes  slaine. 
then  haning  dined,  the  dronyers  went 
32         to  rouze  the  deare  '  againe ; 

The  Bowmen  mnstered  on  the  hills, 

well  able  to  endure  ; 
theire  backsids  all  with  speciall  care 
36  that  they  *  were  guarded  sure. 

the  hounds  ran  swiftly  through  the  woods 

the  Nimble  deere  to  take, 
that  with  *  their  cryes  the  hills  &  dales 
40         an  Eccho  shrill  did  make. 


Percy 


wonden 
whether 
Donglas  will 
appear. 


"There  he  is, 


with  3000 
men!" 


Lord  Pearcy  to  the  Querry  •  went 

to  veiw  the  tender  deere  ; 
qiioth.  he,  "  Erie  douglas  promised  once 
44         this  day  to  meete  me  heere ; 

"  but  if  I  thought  he  wold  not  come, 

noe  longer  wold  I  stay." 
With  that  a  brauo  younge  gentlman 
48         thus  to  the  Erie  did  say, 

*'  Log,  yonder  doth  Erie  douglas  come, 

hys  men  in  armour  bright, 
ftiU  20  hundred  ^  Scottish  speres 
52         all  Marching  in  our  sight. 


*  greyhounds. — P. 

*  when. — ^P. 

■  them  up. — P. 

*  that  day.— P. 


»  And  with.— P. 
•  Quarry. — P. 
»  16,00.— P. 


CIIIU7  OlIAflB. 


9 


ftD  plcMBnt  men 

fiwt  bj  the  riaer  Tweede." 

O  emae  your  spoitti !  "  *  Erie  Pewoj  nud, 

''•lid  take  yowr  bowee  wfth  speede^ 


S3 


CO 


•4 


•tj 


**•  A  now  with  me,  my  eolintiymeiii 

joisr  oonnge  forth  adiraiioe  I 
for  there  was  neaer  Champion  yett ' 

in  8cott.land  nor  inf&anoe 

**  that  eaer  did  on  horabacke  oome, 

A  if  my  hap  ^  it  were, 
I  durst  enoonnter  man  for  man, 

with  him  to  breake  a  spere.'* 

Erie  doogbs  on  his  *  Milke  white  steede, 

Most  Like  a  Baron  bold, 
rode  formost  of  his  company, 

whose  annonr  shone  like  gold :  i^^^  \m] 

**  shew  me,"  sayd  hee,  *^  whose  men  yon  bee 

/A'lt  hunt  see  boldly  heere, 
r/.it  withoat  mj  consent  doe  chase 

d  kill  uij  fuUow  dt*erc/* 

cLf  timt  nian  th*ii  did  ^  answer  make 

wikH  noblt*  Pearcy  hec, 
wht>  KAV<1,  **  wee  liift  not  to  declare, 

ii*.*r  bhcw  wLoAo  men  wee  bee, 

"  Tctt  WW  will  7  Hpend  our  doerest  blood 

thv  rhe«fe^t  *  hjirtH  U)  Hlay." 
then  d<»airlas  swuru  a  Holempno  oathe, 

sbd  than  in  rage  did  say. 


CototeSTs; 


tewm  fight 


toman. 


BMB  tMKJ 

that  hunt 


hit 


F«rc7 

win  not  t«U, 


but  win 
flffht  ffir  tho 
liRhtlo 
hunt. 

Doogtw 

dttClATM 


li-r. 


•.  <f  f-liSf^aDt  Tivi'ftilnlr.  -P. 

•  Tr.'r.  ^m*^  »|tfirt.     I*. 

•  y  *  tM''*r  wnA  thc*r*'n  cIiam^ud.-— 'P. 

•  'u  if  my  hafi-  P 


•  n.-P. 

*  mnn  that  flnit  did. — P. 

*  will  wo. -P. 

*  tliechouvnt.     P. 


10 


CHEUT   CEABK. 


tlutt  one  of 
them  miut 
die. 


and  Mit 

would 

be  wrong  to 

kill  their 

guilUen 

meiif 


he  chal- 
lenges Percy 
to  single 
combat. 
Percy 
socepte. 


A  iqttire, 

Withering- 
ton, 
protests 


that  he'll 
not  look  on 
while  Percy 
fights: 


he'U  fight 
too. 


The  English 
archers 
shoot,  and 
kill  80  Scots. 


84 


100 


104 


108 


*'  £re  thus  I  will  ontbraned  bee, 

one  of  VB  tow  shall  dye  ! 
I  know  thee  well !  an  Erie  thou  art, 

Lord  Pearcj  !  soe  am  I ; 


"  but  trust  me,  Pearcye,  pittye  it  were, 

&  great  offence,  to  Kill 
then  any  of  these  our  goiltlesse  ^  men, 
88        for  they  hane  done  none  ill ' ; 


sayd. 


"  Let  thou  »  A  I  the  battell  trye, 

and  set  our  men  aside.*' 
"  accurst  bee  [he !]  "  Erie  *  Pean^e 
92       "  by  whome  it  is  denyed." 

then  stept  a  gallant  Squire  forth, — 

witherington  was  his  name, — 
who  said,  *'  I  wold  not  haue  it  told 
96       to  Henery  our  King,  for  shame. 


"  thai  ere  my  captaine  fought  on  foote, 

&  I  stand  looking  on : 
you  bee  2  Erles,"  *  quoth  witheriughton, 

*'  <&  I  a  Squier  alone. 


"  He  doe  the  best  that  doe  I  may,^ 

while  I  haue  power  to  stand ! 
while  I  haue  power  to  weeld  my  ^  sword, 
He  fight  with  hart  &  hand !  " 

Our  English  archers  bend  *  their  bowes — 
their  harts  were  good  &  trew, — 

att  the  first  flight  of  arrowes  sent, 
full  foure  score  scotts  ®  th6  slew. 


*  h&nnless. — P. 
«  no  ill— P. 
»  thee.— P. 
«  he,  Lord.— P. 
»  Lords.- P. 


•  that  e'er  I  may.^P. 
'  a.— P. 

•  Scottish  bent— P. 

•  they  4  score  English. — P. 


-¥ 


cauTT  cnisK. 

U  (bias  tiie  daere  with  hound  A  homci, 
■  Bade  an  the  bent ; 

ritli  Mtcklo  mighi,' 
lU         Umst  apem  to  aluden  went. 

thej  rrlnii  (Ul  bat  od  euarye  sido,  n*  !«■ 

BO«  »lw.'kBW  tlMire  was  iuond, 

Imt  *  OMBT  a  nllsnt  yntlftmui  ""^  miRir 
iia         Iaj  gaaping  on  Uie  gronsd. 

OCfcriit!  it  wma  groAt  groene  *  to  eca  chrinni 

Ikow  aclw  man  cboM  bia  apere,*  •«• 

A  how  Oa  blood  oat  of  tiwir  bmti  ' 
IM        didgodiUkawatarolMnl' 

aAWttlHHSatostSiki'didmBot  SlST' 

lika  OiptMMi  of  gratt  Bd^  i 

IM         lU  mido  a  oraoD  fl^ 

tU  iam^A,  ntin  tliar  botli  did  awwrf^ 

with  nrorda  of  tempend  atoele, 
till  blood  [»-]downe  thmr  cheekea  like  nuao  blood  anpt 

iM         tb^  trickling  downe  did  feele.'* 

"  O  jwld  tbee,  Vmkjk  !  "  ■*  Donglaa  aayd,  D««ta. 

"  k**  in&ilb  I  will  tbea  bringe  Bm  to 

wberv  thon  sball  high  advanced  beo 
lU  by  lamM  our  acottiah  King  ; 

'  TWNHitcbEdiUrUiiakiUuaihf  be  •  LardM.—P. 

Rmtt^  K  ••  BOT'd^P.    r  for  Miodf,  wild.— F. 

■  •  (w^  — P.  or '  th*  iKwrf  or  plock '  of  liooi. — SuU, 

•  pn£  — P.  »  r  jL-a  JnU,  m  mao  ;  or  fcr  JUw(*. 

'Md-'f.  iDodlr— F.    or<ayMrf,laidanhaftTU7. 

'     -  — 8ke^ 

••  Until  the  bloodbkadma  of  mis 
TW  tiieUing  down  did  fooL — P. 
■•  n«)dlbalo^P.-P. 
"i.-  P. 


12 


CHEUT   CHAfiE. 


136 


"  thy  ransome  I  will  ft^ely  giue, 

&  this  *  report  of  thee, 
thou  art  the  most  couragions  Kjiujht 

[that  ever  I  did  see.*]  " 


Percy  wUl 
never  yield 
toaScot. 


UO 


"  Noe,  Douglas  !  "  qwoth  Erle^  Percy  then,    [page  190 

**  thy  prefer  I  doe  scome  ; 
I  will  not  yeelde  to  any  scott 

that  ener  yett  was  borne  !  " 


An  English 
arrow 


kills 
DoDgla^, 


144 


With  that  there  came  an  arrow  kccne 

out  of  an  english  bow, 
who  *  scorke  Erie  donglas  on  the  brest  * 

a  deepe  and  deadlye  blow  ; 


exhorting 
his  men  to 
fight. 


148 


who  neuer  sayd  ®  more  words  then  these, 
"  fight  on,  my  menymen  all ! 

for  why,  my  life  is  att  [an]  end, 
Lord  Pearcy  sees  my  ^  fall." 


Percy 


laments 
over  his 
dead  foe; 


152 


then  leaning  liffe,  Erie  Pearcy  tooke 

the  dead  man  by  the  hand  ; 
who  *  said,  "  Erie  dowglas  !  for  thy  '  sake 

wold  I  had  lost  my  Land  ! 


a  braver 
knight  ne*er 
died. 


156 


"  O  christ !  my  verry  hart  doth  bleed 
for  *®  sorrow  for  thy  sake  ! 

for  snre,  a  more  redonbted  **  "Knight, 
Mischance  cold  **  neuer  take  !  " 


»  thus.— P. 

»  That  ever  I  did  see.— P. 

"  Lord.— P. 

*  which. — P.  scorke.ioT  storke,  BtToke^ 
struck  ;  skorke  moans  scorch ;  see 
skorche  in  Halliwell's  Gloss. — F. 

*  to  y*  heart.— P. 


•  spake. — P. 
»  me.— P. 

»  And.— P. 

•  life.— P. 
•«  with.— P. 

"  renowned. — P, 
"  did.— P. 


Tart  n. 


m 

It 


Sit 


re41  Bi0Bii3«id  ciL  ft  giil— 17 


And' 


^'m 


ITl 


ft  iftne^  dodi  Tvd  4 


f  tirgt:  k  ni^pr. 


%km» 


ir«  tl«  5cible  Erie -WW  ftiiuitfu 


W  h^  'ft'  rw^  ^oc^  *  A  li»  ifloic 
■M«dr  €/ft  trw0j  trtif  , 

i£  krr^'w  '/  ft  ''»'*t.t  ^•ti  I'lijr* 


♦  .  •»^        t     k   •-  t.A'Sa.'*        tf%^m»^        '        (*A4« 


14 


CHEUT   CHASE. 


■hoots  Mont- 
gomery 


through  the 
heart. 


184 


against  Sir  Hugh  Mountgomeiye  ^ 
hiB  shaft  full  light '  he  sett ; 

the  grey  goose  winge  tJuit  was  there-oo, 
in  his  harts  bloode  '  was  wett. 


Theflg^t 
kata  idl  day. 


188 


this  fight  from  breake  of  day  did  last  ^ 

till  setting  of  the  sun, 
for  when  th6  rang  the  Enening  bell 

the  Battele  scarse  was  done. 


Names  of 
theEngliah 
knighta 
ilain. 


192 


wtth  *  stout  Erie  Percy  there  was  slaine  ® 

Sir  lohn  of  Egerton/ 
Sir  Robert  Harcli£fe  4  Sir  William,® 

Sir  lames  that  bold  barron ; 


196 


&  with  Sir  George  &  *  Sir  lames, 

both  Knr^^ts  of  good  account ; 
&  good  Sir  Raphe  Bebbye  ^°  there  was  slaine, 

whose  prowesse  **  did  snrmonnt. 


Withering- 
ton  fights  on 
his  stumpa 
when  his 
l^arecnt 
off. 


200 


for  witherington  needs  mnst  I  wayle 
as  one  in  too  ftdl  ^^  dnmpes, 

for  when  his  leggs  were  smitten  of, 
he  fought  vpon  his  stumpes. 


Names  of 
the  Scotch 
knighta 
alain. 


204 


And  with  Erie  dowglas  there  was  slaine 

Sir  Hugh  Mountgomerye, 
*^  &  Sir  Charles  Morrell  **  that  from  feeldo 

one  foote  wold  neuer  flee  ; 


»  then.— P. 

'  80  right  his  shaft. — P. 

•  heart-blood. — P. 

*  did  last  from  break. — P. 
»  the.— P. 

'  There  is  a  dot  for  the  t,  but  nothing 
more  in  the  MS. — F, 
'  Ogepton.— P. 


•  Ratcliffe  &  Sir  John.— P. 

'  Sir  Geoige  also  &  good. — P. 
•«  Good  ....  Babby.— P. 
"  courage. — P. 
»«  doleful.— P. 
'«  d.— P. 
>«  Murray.— P. 


CHBUT  CHASB. 


15 


Sir  Roger  Heaer  of  Harcliffe  tow, — > 
hifl  sitten  sonne  was  hee, — 

S>*r  darid  LAmbwell  well '  esteemed, 
bat  MTed  he  cold  '  not  bee ; 


111 


su 


k  the  Lorr?  Maxwell  Id  like  case  ^ 

with  Douglas  he  did  dye ;  * 
*  of  2^}  ^  hundred  Scottish  speeres, 
So  did  flje ; 


of  l.V»  Englishmen 

went  home  bnt  53  * ; 
the  rest  in  Cheaj  chase  were  slaine, 

Vnder  the  greenwoode  tree. 


bat*  191] 


Of  MOO 

Sooteh 

left; 


of  IMO 
BDffliah, 
only  AS. 


t» 


Nf  xt  dar  did  many  widdowes  come 

their  hnsbands  to  bewajle ; 
thej  washt  *  their  wounds  in  brinish  teares, 

but  all  wold  not  *  preyayle. 


Next  day 
the  widows 
come, 
and  weep. 


14 


therr  l>o*lve<i  iMithrd  in  f)urj)lc  blood, 
th»'-  Ujh*  With  them  away, 

tii.  V  kiM  thfni  dtiwl  a  1'hV)  times 
tpf  tht*  '^  were  cWid  in  clav. 


and  carry 
the  corpaeii 
off 


to  the  gT%re. 


*!• 


thi-  '    n-Wi's  waj»  *'  brou^lit  to  Ed<lenlH)rrow 
when*  S<^»ttbindfi  Knoj  did  rayne, 

thtt  hrsiiK-  Erie  Doa^las  Hoddainlyo 
nnf,  With  an  arrow  slaine. 


-  r  ♦  "  a  M'irrxr  of  lUu  lilF**  t<>». 


r>f  20,00  Endijihrnen 
^4»a^c«•  Ad  did  flct*. — P. 
'   I.V— P. 

•  MS.  th»y  waiiht  th«-y.— F.     d.— P. 

•  r«»uld  n<*t. — P. 


••  wh«n  thry.—  P. 
'•  The«.— P. 


'■  irer».— P 


16 


CHECT   CHAISE. 


Kin;r  Jarr.M 
Umf^nu  th« 
k**»  of 

'So  'r.ch 
captAin  has 
be  left. 


King  Henry 


Percy'*  lo« ; 


(( 


be  hftM  .Vm> 
AH  ^ckkI  still 
left, 


bnt  ho  will 
take  ven- 
gr>anco 

tffT  Percy's 
death. 

Ami  he  did 
on  llnmblo 

J>OWIM», 

killinf? 
Lordit,  and 


hnndnvlH  of 
leiw  account. 


God  grant 


Uiai  Ktrifo 
Ijctwwn 
noblo  men 
may  ccaso  I 


^  O  heanj  newes  !  **  Km</  lames  can  saj, 
'*  Scottland  may  wittenesse  bee 
I  bane  not  any  Capttii'ii^  more 
2.32  of  such  account  as  hee !  " 

like  ty dings  to  K^ing  Henery  came 

w/thin  as  short  a  space, 
that  Pearcy  of  Nortlinmberland 
236  in  Cheny  chase  was  slaine.' 

"  Now  god  be  with  him  !  "  said  onr  Kiwy, 

"  sith  it  will  noe  better  bee,' 
I  trust  I  hane  within  my  realme 
240  500  as  good  as  hee ! 

"  *  yett  shall  not  Scotts  nor  Scottland  say 

but  I  will  vengeance  take, 
&  be  revenged  on  them  all 
244  for  braue  Erie  Percyes  sake." 

*  this  vow  the  "King  did  well  performe 

afler  on  humble  downe  ; 
in  one  day  50  Knights  were  slayne, 
248         w?'th  Lords  of  great  renowne, 

&  *  of  the  rest  of  small  ®  account, 

did  many  hundreds  dye  : 
thus  endeth  the  hunting  in  ^  Cheuy  Chase 
252  made  ®  by  the  Erie  Pearcyo. 

God  saue  our  *  King,  and  blesse  this  '®  land 

with  plentye,  loy,  &  peace  ; 
&  grant  hencforth  tJuit  foule  debate 
256         twixt  noble  men  may  ceaze  ! 
ffillS. 


Now  God  1)0  with  him,  cried  our  king, 

Sith  will  no  hotter  be  ! 
I  t.niHt  I  hiivo  &c. — P. 
WiiH  »lain  in  Che^y  Chase. — P. 
()  fumvy  news,  K,  Henry  said, 

EugH  can  witness  be, — P. 


*  These  2  stanzas  omitted  in  y*  Scotch 
Edition. — P.    See  note,  p.  1. — F. 

•  Now. — ^P.  •  mean. — ^P, 
»  of.— P.  •  led.— P. 

»  the.— P.  »•  the.— P. 


17 


LcmeuurB^s  aongi  were  in  great  request  in  his  day.  They  were 
lec  to  mode  faj  popular  oompoaera  of  the  time, — ^by  Dr.  John 
Wikon,  by  Mr.  John  Laniere,  by  Mr.  Henry  Lawea  whom  Dante 
VM  to  give  Fame  leave  to  set  hi^er  than  hia  Gasella— and 
drcolated  widely  in  Boyaliat  Society.  Till  1649— the  author 
WM  bom  in  1618— they  led  a  acatfcered  and  wandering  life.  In 
that  year  they  were  gathered  together  and  published  in  a  volume 
entitled  ^  Lucaila,  Epodea,  Odea,  Sonnets^  Songs,  &c  to  which  is 
added  Anunanfha  a  Pastorall,  by  Bichard  Lovelace,  Esq.'*  Mean- 
while there  were,  no  doubt,  in  vogue  many  versions  of  the  greater 
£:kToiiht««,  more  or  less  inaccurate.  The  copy  of  the  exquisite 
«.-c./  beginning  ^'^lien  Love  with  unconfined  wings/'  here 
phiitcrd  from  the  Folio  MS^  is  one  of  these. 

<»f  hll  the  Cavalier  poets  Lovelace  is  the  most  charming.  He 
19  ft  tnie  cavalier  ;  he  is  a  true  poet  The  world,  that  has  long 
''iiZi^i  avav  itii  ear  from  Cowley  and  Cleveland,  still  listens  to 
?.;.•  #«*^  voice.  Are  there  any  gems  brighter  than  his  soDg  "  to 
IjjcartA  on  going  to  the  Wars,**  or  that  to  **  Althea  from  Prison '"  ? 
H  V  cLivalroiu  the  thought  of  them !  How  tremulously  delicate 
?L#-  c-xpreacioo ! 

Hu  life  was  full  of  sadness.  The  son  of  a  Kentish  knight, 
^^tin^itd  at  the  Charterhouse  and  at  Gloucester  Hall,  Oxfonl, 

Wr^<«.a  ty  Col.  JohA  LovrUat  [t.i.       Onm.  Vol.  2f     WritUrn  by  <4e  Aiitb"r 
i^  •..ftrd  LuT»kfe»].     8r«  Wood*!  AiMemm      when  tmpriiOD'4.— P. 


«  t.    II  C 


18  WHBN   LOUE  WITH  VNCONFINED  WINGS. 

"  the  most  amiable  and  beautiful  person  that  eye  ever  beheld,  a 
person  also  of  innate  modesty,  virtue  and  courtly  deportment, 
which  made  him  then  [at  Oxford],  but  especially  after,  when  he 
retired  to  the  great  city,  most  admired  and  adored  by  the  female 
sex."  Thus  physically  endowed,  thus  happily  circumstanced,  he 
was  yet  crossed  in  love,  and  died  in  a  state  of  destitution. 

Lucy  Sacheverell — the  Lux  Casta  or  Lucasta  of  his  poems, 
from  the  nunnery  of  whose  chaste  breast  and  quiet  mind  he  had 
fled  to  war  and  arms,  that  "dear"  whom  he  loved  so  much 
because  he  loved  honour  more — misled  by  a  report  that  he  had 
died  of  wounds  received  at  Dunkirk  while  commanding  a  regi- 
ment, of  his  own  forming,  in  the  service  of  the  French  king, 
became  the  wife  of  somebody  else.     The  close  of  the  civil  war, 
in  which  he  had  devoted  both  his  services  and  his  fortunes  to  his 
king^s  cause,  found  him  beggared.      His  loyalist  zeal  got  him 
twice  into  prison.     "  During  the  time  of  his  confinement,"  says 
Wood  of  the  first  imprisonment,  "  he  lived  beyond  the  income  of 
his  estate,  either  to  keep  up  the  credit  and  reputation  of  the 
king^s  cause  by  furnishing   men  with  horses  and  arms,  or  by 
relieving  ingenious   men  in  want,  whether  scholars,  musicians, 
soldiers,  &c. ;  also  by  furnishing  his  two  brothers  Colonel  Franc. 
Lovelace,  and  Capt.  Will.  Lovelace  (afterwards  slain  at  Caer- 
marthen)  with  men  and  money  for  the  king's  cause,  and  his 
other  brother  called  Dudley  Posthumus  Lovelace  with  monys 
for  his  maintenance  in  Holland  to  study  tactics  of  fortification  in 
that  school  of  war."     '^  After  the  murther  of  King  Charles  I., 
Lovelace  was  set  at  liberty  [from   his   second   captivity],  and 
having  by  that  time  consumed  all  his  estate,  grew  very  melan- 
choly (which  brought  him  at  length  into  a  consumption),  became 
very  poor  in  body  and  purse,  was  the  object  of  charity,  went  in 
ragged  deaths  (whereas  when  he  was  in  his  glory  he  wore  cloth  of 
gold  and  silver),  and  mostly  lodged  in  obscure  and  dirty  places, 
more  befitting  the  worst  of  beggars  and  poorest  of  servants,  Ac  . . 


WEES  LOCI  wnn  thcokti^eb  wtvg?.  19 

He  died  in  a  rerj  mean  lodging  in  Gunpowder  alley  near  Shoe- 
bne,  and  was  buried  at  the  west  end  of  the  church  of  St.  Bnde 
aUm  Bridget  in  London,  near  to  the  body  of  his  kinsman,  l»^*ill. 
I»TeIace  of  Graj*s  Inn,  Esq.^ — ^  Richard  Lovelace,  Esq^"^  savs 
Aubrev,  **  obiit  in  a  cellar  in  Long  Acre,  a  little  before  the 
mtauralion   of  his   ma*^.      Mr.  Edm.   Wyld,  ^c,  had  made 

colletrtions  for  him  and  given  him  money Geo.  Petty, 

haberdasher,  in  Fleet  Street,  carryed  XXs  to  him  every  Munday 

morning  from  Sir  Mahy,  and  Charles  Cotton,  Esq.,  for 

months,  but  was  never  repay "d."^  He  died  in  1658,  and  so  was 
nvtd  from  experiencing  Stuart  gratitude.  These  accounts  of 
Li«  disuuJ  indigence  may  perhaps  be  coloured.  But  there  can 
W  no  doubt  he  ended  in  extreme  poverty,  in  a  sad  contrast  to 
tbe  brilliancy  of  his  early  days. 

The  fiillowing  song  was  written  during  his  first  captivity.  He 
hail  been  chosen  by  his  county  to  present  a  Petition  to  the  House 
of  C  ommons  **  for  the  restoring  of  the  king  to  his  rights,  and  for 
•v-tling  thf'  government."  He  presented  it,  and  by  way  of  answer 
»x*  o*riitnitte«l  to  the  Gate  Houw  at  Westminster.  But  liis  mind, 
.:.'.  •  -rit  and  ijuift,  to«»k  his  prison  for  a  hermitage.  His  gaolers 
:.-.».ri  hirn  •iii;^iiig  in  his  bon(iri.  Love  with  wings  that  brooked 
:.  '  •  ufiu*uifUi  hnveretl  near  him.  Hrought  by  that  chain  less 
••   '.'^  xIj'  divine  Althea  came  to  visit  liim  in  liis  durance.     She 

:  .•i»i\  thf?  cjiptive  into  a  second  captivity.  With  her  fair  hair 
.  -  •»  .-. .•  fr»-h  Uinds  for  him;  she  laid  on  new  fetters  with  her 
'*..>..  I;«it  h»-  rtrv<-lh*<l  in  thest*  chains.  Having  freeilom  in  his 
■    .1,  xiij*'\'^  al<»n»*  that  are  above  enjoyed  such  liberty. 


W  HKN  l>»ve  w/th  vncoiifincd  win^s 

h"\»  r%  Within  my  vrJ»t<*s, 
A  i:.v  di\ihf  Altht'U  hriii«:H 
4  to  whi»»jM,'  lit  my  grates, 

i-  2 


Wh«'H  r  \ 


20 


WHEN  LOUB  WITH  VNCONFINBD  WINQS. 


I  am  free 
as  a  bird. 


When  I, 
confined, 
sing  my 
king's 
goodness, 


lam  free  as 
tbe  winds. 


when  I  lye  tangled  in  her  heere 

&  fettered  with  her  eye, 
the  bnrdB  that  wanton  in  the  ayre 
8        enioyes  ^  such  Lybertye. 

When,  Lynett  like  confined,  I 
wtth  shriller  note  shall  sing 
the  mercy,  goodnesse,  maiestye 
12         &  glory  of  my  kinge, 

when  I  shall  voice  alond  how  good 

he  is,  how  great  shold  bee, 
the  enlarged  winds  that  cnrles  the  floods  ^ 
16        enioyes  such  Lybertye. 


WhenI 
drink  with 
boon  com* 
panions 


to  our  canse, 


I  am  as  free 
as  a  fish. 


When  flowing  cupps  run  swiftly  round 

With  woe-allaying  theames, 
our  carlesse  heads  wtth  roses  crowned, 
20        our  harts  with  Loyall  flames, 

when  thirsty  soules  in  wine  wee  steepe, 

when  cupps  and  bowles  goe  &ee, 
ffishes  that  typle  in  the  deepe 
24        enioyes  such  Lybertye. 


Though  in 
prison, 


yet  with  a 
pare  soul 


and  free 
love, 

I  am  free  as 
an  angel. 


Stone  walls  doe  not  a  prison  make, 

nor  Iron  barrs  a  cage, 
the  spotlesse  soule  an[d]  Liocent ' 
28        Calls  this  an  hermitage.' 
if  I  haue  freedome  in  my  loue, 

&  in  my  soule  am  free, 
angells  alone  that  sores  aboue 
32        enioyes  such  Lybertye ! 

ffins. 


[Pi«el« 


1  This  final  8  and  several  others  have 
been  marked  through  by  a  later  hand. 
-F. 


«  flood.— P. 

'  These  lines  differ  from  the  nsni 
reading. — Skeat 


21 


8KTEEAL  collections  of  Waller's  Poems  appeared  as  early  as 
lG45y  while  be  was  living  in  France.   The  first  edition  ^'corrected 
and  published  witb  the  approbation  of  the  Author  "  came  out  in 
1064.     "IMien  the  Author  of  these  verses,"  says  the  Printer  to 
the  Reader  in  this  one,  "  (written  only  to  please  himself  and  such 
particular  persons  to  whom  they  were  directed),  returned  from 
abr<jad  some  years  since.  He  was  troubled  to  find  his  name  in 
print,  but  somewhat  satisfied  to  see  his  lines  so  ill  rendered,  that 
be  might  justly  disown  them,  and  say  to  a  mistaking  Printer,  as 
fioe  did  to  an  ill  Bedter,  male  dum  recitas,  incipia  esse  tuunu 
Hariag  been  ever  since  pressed  to  correct  the  many  and  gross 
faults  (fudi  as  use  to  be  in  impressions  wholly  neglected  by  the 
ft'jtii</f»;  his  answer  was.  That  he  made  these  when  ill  verses  had 
Hi  T^   i^vijiw  and  escaped  better  than  good  cues  do  in  this  age, 
t*i.   Jii#-rerity  whereof  he  thought  not  unhappily  diverted  by  these 
t^/ilt.-*  in    the  impression,   which  hitherto    have  hung  upon  his 
F^^k,  aA  the  Turks  hang  old  raggs  (or  such  like  ugly  things) 
'.p^n  their  fairest  Horses,  and  other  goodly  creatures,  to  secure 
Ui^m    against    fascination ;   and    for   those   of  a    more   coufnui 
•-L#irr»tAnding  (who  pretend  not  to  censure)  as  they  admire  most 
»Lit  they  lea/4  ctjmprehend,  so  his  Verses  (muined  to  that  degree 
*.lmz  him«elf  scarce  knew  what  to  make  of  many  of  them),  might 
*  .At  wav  at  lea^  have  a  title  to  some  Admiration,  which  is  no 
*T^1  Uiatter,  if  what  an  old  Author  observes  be  true,  that  the 

*  Aji  •U^ua  old  tcmg  whtteo  by  Mr.  Waller.     Se«  hit  Poems.— P. 


■>•> 


iim  'f  '"^ratr.rs  Jk  '^cror;'.  >i  ffiatpnan*  TiTirfa.  ami  of  PocCb 
-Viiminuit.-n:  3e  -laii  reaa*jn-  "aerefon*.  ro  iiuiuige  diiMe  fiuxhs 
in  JLLa  3«.*ti£  ratrreliv  Tt  Tii  jic  '>*  reoaoiied  txj  ^me^  and 
•r.'>niizieniic;ti  -o  itticrrs.'*  3iir  rhe  .^jUsiiitsaLtioiiiS  expresBed  in  this 
LorupTtniitrL  uui  •^jme'^TULt  yjnfniing  manner,  were  overcome  by 
the  impt-^rmnirr  >f  "he  ^wr.rrfav  Prinrer.  uiii  the  Poet  at  lagt  gave 
leavr  '*  "o  iB&Tir*^  -he  E«^er.  rhiir  "iie  P  jrms  whidi  have  been  so 
lon^  ^Qlt  ^:»  ill  -«r  iirtti  inder  iii*  name,  are  here  to  be  tbond  as 
he  nr?t  vrit  :htfm.  ^  xuso  ro  iiid  -s^jme  others  which  have  since 
been  '-'nmpo.reti  iv  imn.'*  The  roilowin^  aong  does  not  occur  in 
thia  edirltm :  ai-r  in  that  n  ln82.  •*  die  Fom^  Edltioa  with 
9er»^ni  Aiitiirions  ae^er  ben>re  printe^L"*  It  appears  in  that  of 
171 1,  ^the  -iii^t  •fiiicion^  with  odiiidon^.'*'  and  no  doobt  in 
aeveral  of  die  pr-?t't*iiinj£  •e*iirion& 

The  9*303^  ia  a  niir  -fpetdnien  of  Waller's  average  style.  It 
exhihiu  his  tsluiv*^  ami  his  merits — his  affeccation,  and  strained 
gallantry,  with  ^methin^  of  his  elegance  and  grace. 

His  life  was  not  a  noble  one.  He  was  not  inspired  by  that 
spirit  which  enabled  Lovelace  to  sing  that 

dtooe  w!iZd  ia  ooc  i  pcdon  isaks,  5or  inn  bus  a  enge. 

He  lived  from  160-5  to  1667,  from  the  year  of  the  Gonpowder 
Treaaon  to  the  year  before  the  Revolution.  He  sat  in  Parlia- 
ment, for  various  places,  from  his  nineteenth  year  to  bis  death, 
except  from  1643  to  the  Restoration,  in  which  period  his 
connection  with  the  Royalist  Plot  of  1643  suspended  his 
public  life. 


^•J'^i-.  1  ClORIS,  farwell !  I  needs  must  goe ! 

for  if  With  thee  I  longer  stay, 
thine  eyes  prevayle  upon  me  soe, 
•iKhf.  4         I  shall  grow  blynd  &  lose  my  way.' 

I  f/i/irfl  V,  n,  i,  uro  Almost  all  eaten  away  by  the  ink  of  the  title  at  the  back.— F. 


bne  of  ihj  facwtf  A  tiij  joath, 
■■iiii[(H  lb*  rMt  too  htthi'r  brotif^ht ; 

^■t  IhwHay  bou!  &I1  afaort  of  trntli, 
■•da  aw  '  itaf  loDgor  then  1  thnngbl. 


&r  I  MB  WOffigtd.  hy  woni  [anil]  othi! 

»  nmnt  to  ■Botlinv  wiJl ; 
kit  fiv  U15  Icnu)  wold  forfitt  Imtfa. 

«a«  I  bat  mn  to  keope  iU  stil]. 


Bat  alkBt  MMtnuivo  con  I  Utkf. 


■^i*  IMM  M  vJtb  KM  lui  neoM. 

ftr  Aim  wilt  17  it,  *■  it  VM  ■  iw(  d^  bote 
Oat  I  to  Am  *  TBflOMtant  prtnw^ 

«B  braka  d^  oOa  to  nMnd  tiij  low." 

Bm,  Glorit,  Fo»  !  I  wiB  ntana, 
A  i*rw  thf  storj  to  tlutt  height 

|j|«t  itnagen  shall  att  diatance  bnjiie, 
A  dwe  diatnist  thee  *  reprobate. 

^isi  ■hall  mjr  lone  this  Doabt  displace, 
A  gaiiw  the  tmst  lAdt  I  maj  como 

A  wmetiinea  baoqnett  on  thy  face, 

bat  stake  mj  constant  meales  att  home. 


2-S» 


iSSS" 


dotf.— F. 


•  Umd  hi  m#.  QiL— P. 

■  On*  itioka  too  fev  in  the  MS.— F. 

•  Df*.  Qn.— P. 


24 


This  song  occurs  in  the  Roocburghe  Collection  of  BcUlads, 
iii.  256,  in  the  Loyal  Oarland  containing  choice  Songs  and 
Sonnets  of  our  late  Revolution  (London,  1671,  Beprinted  by 
the  Percy  Society),  in  a  Collection  of  Loyal  Songs,  in  Bitson's 
Ancient  Songs.  Mr.  Chappell,  in  his  Popular  Music  of  the 
Olden  Time,  ii.  434-9,  gives  the  air  to  which  it  was  sung,  along 
with  much  information  concerning  it  (which  should  be  read),  and 
nine  more  stanzas  than  are  included  in  our  Folio.  It  was  written 
by  Martin  Parker,  as  appears  from  the  following  extract  from 
the  Gossips*  Feast  or  MoraU  Tales,  1647  :  "The  gossips  were 
well  pleased  with  the  contents  of  this  ancient  ballad,  and 
Crammer  Growty-legs  replied  *  By  my  faith,  Martin  Parker  never 
got  a  fairer  brat ;  no,  not  when  he  penn'd  that  sweet  ballad. 
When  the  King  imjoyes  his  own  a^avn.^  "  It  was  an  extreme 
favourite  with  the  Cavaliers. 

Booker,  Pond,  Bivers,  Swallow,  Dove,  Dade,  and  Hammond, 
were  eminent  astrologers  and  almanack-makers.  See  Ritsan, 
and  Chappell,  ii.  437,  note  '. 


What  Booker  can  prognosticate, 
Who  can  considerrilnfi:  now  the  kin&rdomes  state  ? 

foroteU  T    1  . 

I  thmke  my  selfe  to  be  as  wise 
4     as  he  that  gaseth  ^  on  the  skyes  ; 

my  skill  goes  beyond  the  depth  of  Pond  • 
or  Biners  in  the  greatest  raine, 
m^^  wherby  I  can  teU  thai  all  things  will  goe  well 

own^again?       ®        when  the  King  enioyes  his  rights  againe. 

*  An  old  Caviller  Song.— P.  *  gazeth. — P.  ■  ponds. — P. 


m  snoi  EsioTM  ns  uean  loua 

29 

n» a  a>tbr  •nU>w.  dunnor  dxk. 

<»  an  ■»•  Ugli,  or  dnrT  n<I. 

sia"~ 

to  ikw  a  naaoa  froB  the  Mama. 

SiS~ 

u 

wbx  riiiiH  tlaB  OCT  daill  mno. 
Iko  BU  ta  tbo  Booae  Bar  *^ou«  («t  his  ■hoo[iic 
niaaaiag  a«ar  Oariia  biinriic ; 

'•1 

brt  an  ia  to  BOO  oad,  for  tbo  timn  will  Dot  Dio[ni 

J']      SJSa 

It 

tiB  tho  Kta;  aoioTaa  hia  right  afpino. 

All  40  TOMW  hia  mTall  erowno 
kalk  baoae  Ua  bllioni  aad  liia  oara^ 
t  ia  ll>n  aajr  ana  aor'  Loo 

SSS5 

s* 

Ikat  j.  U.  aaai  aloU  alunaia  ■  baa. 

Ihoa  b  (bat  balli  aacli  ngbta  u>  lainP 

sSh., 

thM«  la  aoa  bolNB  of  a  poaoo.  or  tlin  war  to  Gv  [dm 

,  »i.    ElT' 

*t 

tin  tba  Uv  aaioroa  Ua  rigbl  agui... 

■  A  iOmt  Imu  Sgiwin 
wUeh  ■muioiIj  ['t]  wm *  wtmt  [to]  Iwne, 

with  K  aweeto  perhme  in  enmyo  roome  a^  pa. 

■ieliglitfiill  to  (Adt  prinoelj  trmine  : 

wiiich  agmine  ihmlbe  when  the  times  yoa  ico  *kB  t^ 

/Ant  th«  Kii^  eniojGs  hia  right  againe.'  ^flE^* 

ffioa. 

AooM.— P.  •  fomerly  t  waL— F, 

■■■J.     P.  '  Thb  boRli  lUiuB  ii  pnt  hvlon  the 

•kM.— P.  Ihiri  in  tha  copf  UlM  lb.  CUppaU 

*mnn.—P.  *  «aM.— P.          priaU,  ii.  4M. 


26 


This  song  under  the  title  of  Mark  Anthony  is  found,  minus 
vv.  13-20  inclusive,  in  Poems  by  J.  C,  1651,  the  first  edition 
of  Cleveland's  Poems,  and  in  such  of  the  many  subsequent  ones 
as  we  have  examined,  those  of  1654  (B.  in  the  notes  below),  of 
1677  (C.  in  the  notes),  and  of  1687  (D.  in  the  notes).  Our  copy 
is  probably  a  bad  one  of  the  verses  before  they  were  printed, 
when  lines  13-20  were  cut  out.  The  song  is  marked  by  Cleve- 
land's characteristic  vigour  and  tendency  to  "  conceits." 

John  Cleveland  sang  and  suffered  much  in  the  Boyal  cause. 
Educated  at  Christ's  College,  elected  a  Fellow  of  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge — "To  cherish  such  hopes,"  says  an  old 
biographer  of  him,  "  the  Lady  Margaret  drew  forth  both  her 
breasts  " — he  joined  the  King  at  Oxford  when  the  breach  with 
the  Parliament  became  irreparable,  and  gallantly  adhered  to  the 
King's  fortunes  to  the  end.  After  the  capture  of  Newark,  when 
he  was  Judge  Advocate,  he  seems  to  have  led,  for  some  years,  a 
life  of  wretched  vagrancy.  In  1655  he  was  taken  prisoner.  He 
made  an  appeal  to  Cromwell,  which  was  heard.  He  did  not  live 
to  see  the  restoration  of  the  race  which  he  had  served  with  all  his 
trenchant  wit,  with  the  truest  devotion.  April  29,  1659,  is  the 
date  of  his  death. 

As  the  copy  in  our  folio  MS.  is  corrupt  in  many  places,  we 
give  here  the  copy  from  the  first  edition  of  1651,  collated  with 
the  editions  of  1654,  1677,  and  1687. 

MARK  ANTHONY. 
WHEN  as  the  Nightingale  chanted  her  Vespers, 
And  the  wild  Forester  couch*d  on  the  ground, 
Venus  invited  me  in  th'  Evening  whispers, 
4    Unto  a  fragrant  field  with  Roses  crowned : 


'  Not  an  inelegant  old  song.    Corrected  by  an  Edition  in  Cleveland's  Poems. 
12«o  1687.  p.  66,— P. 


^^^F                            TKB  JHHPtUir  QTUnL 

k_ 

_! 

17bM  mj  ttHrm  rait«i>t 

•         PUU  with  St*  ua  th«  (itwn, 

Vmr  JU*  AflUuoy 

Mliid  morr  nntoal; 

^^g 

With  iltf  Ur  t^^Tptian  Qa».n. 

■ 

I*     Pto»«iWeb»rT7rh*rl.lp.bc«y™f«»l<,l. 

■ 

nM'baroTiort'titiiiKiiMdt  merdirr: 

^^1 

^^1 

W        TiM  «•  UiM  la  dut 

^^1 

BKh.tMgUml)*M% 

^^1 

AmMtlMk>>«a«HMR: 

■««t  Ep.nl  nib.  bM*Ma. 

^^1 

■               B«tTr  SUA  At. 

^ 

H jaliNl  Ommar  of  UM 
Pi«tif  of  pvlaca  ill*  njnek  of  Lot*, 
BlMtorMl  (tnutingi  ind  M nneal  Dsiicn ; 
HiBbhaf  of  kJMM  AriUunttick  prorr. 

Ejc*  bks  AttroDoaj. 

Strrigbt  linb'd  Oiomrtij : 

la  bar  haut'a  iogeiij 

Onr  wiu  u*  ihup  utd  lu*o. 
XrTcr  Muk.  ^. 


n  HEN  aa  Uw  Nightingftte  chanted  her  veeper,* 
A  the  wyld  bjrrfM  by  ooncht*  on  the  gronnd, 

Vena*  iarii«d  me  to  kn  eneoing  Wiaper,* 
to  6«gnat  feelds '  with  roae*  croosde 


famstcn,  I'.f.  tlw  dear,  tbe  lohabiunu 
«f  the  fomaL— P. 
*  JB  th'  atmitic  whifpns.— P. 


28 


THE  .SQIPTIAN   QUENS. 


Wa  dallied 
like  Antony 
•ndCleo- 

IMtim. 

I  looked  at 
borcbedcs. 


UModber 


ptened 
band. 


her 


her  in  the  w^tch  >  fihee  before  had  sent  her  cheefest  complement, 

Ynto   my'  harts  content  sport'  with  me  on  the 
greene; 
Nener  marke  Anthony  dalljed  more  wantonly 
8        With  his  £Eiyre  ^giptian  qneene^  ! 

ffirst  on  her  Cherry  cheekes  I  my  eyes  ^  feasted ; 

thence  feare  of  surffetting  made  me  retyre, 
then  to  her  warmed  [lips],^  which  when  I  tasted, 
12        my  spiritts  dnld  were  made  actine  by^  fyer. 

^  this  heat  againe  to  cahne,  her  moyst  hand  yeolderd 
bahne; 
whilest  wee  loyned  ^  pahne  to  palme  as  if  wee  one 
had  beene, 
Neuer  marke  Anthony  dallyed  more  wantonly 
16        wtth  his  £ayre  Cor  ^®  egiptian  qneene ! 

Then  in  her  golden  heere  "  I  my  hands  twined ; 

shee  her  hands  in  my  lockes  twisted  againe, 
as  if  her  heere  had  beene  fetters  assigned, . 
20         Sweet  litle  Cnpid  ^^  Loose  captine  ^'  to  chayne  ; 
Boe  did  wee  often  dart  one  at  anothers  hart 

arrows   that  felt^^   noe  smart,   sweet   lookes   and 
smiles  '*  between. 
Nener,  &c. 

24    Wa[yting  a  glass  to  platt]  those  amoros  tresses  ^^ 
which  like  a  [bracelet]  deckt  richly  mine  arme, 


twined  mine 
in  her  hair, 


gazed  in  her 
eyes. 


Her  tresses 
deoktmy 


*  Where. — P.  Far  her  cheefest  Percy 
puts  my  wishes. — ^F. 

*  And  to  my.  query. — P. 
Pla/d.— P. 

Only  half  the  n  in  the  MS.— F. 
mine  eyes. — P. 
warmer  lips. — ^P, 
active  as. — P. 

'  N.B.  from  hence  to  [So  did  we 
often  dart]  is  wanting  in  the  printed 
Copy.— P. 

*  A  ^  is  between  loyned  and  palme  in 
the  MS.  08  if  wee  one  had  beene  has 
been  first  written  as  a  separate  line,  then 


s 

4 


struck  out  and  written  after  palme ;  then 
one  had  bee^  was  struck  out,  and  copied 
in  again  by  Percy. — ^F. 
»•  ?  MS.— F. 
"  haire.— P. 

"  After  the  d  Percy  puts  *«. — ^F. 
After  the  e  Percy  adds  a. — F. 
fett,  fetch'd. — queiy :  it  is  knew  no 
in  print — P. 
'*  Lipps  and  smiles. — ^P. 
>*  Wayting  a  glass  to  platt  (plait)  her 
amber  tresses. — P.      Tne    ixik  of  the 
heading   The  king  enioyee  on  the  back 
has  eaten  the  MS.  away. — F. 


IS 
14 

sm*. 


THE  Mjurruii  QUtSZ. 

I  lono  wBa  wAich  '  when  ehce  blessed  * 
looe  with  Eiu9»  moee  *  more  rioUj  *  tkein  wanno. 
altca  nractclj  pe^  in  eyne  (Lit  wns  more  oristalline, 
wkiA  bgr  nAwtioD  ihine  ecb  eje  &od  oyc  vraB  soend. 

S«Ur,  Ac. 


S&MnQgm 


am*  of*  funoroa  glance 


IT  of  tnilioB,  ihc  phiaiokti  of  lone,  wJfch» 

RatanmD  caorting*  &  nxainctiU  dtuicca, 

Baabring  of  kian  Arithemctiuku  proues  ' ; 
^ftm  Kka  watnmtM^,  ttiayghi  limbes  geonu-lry,  imwtamm 


*I>^^H&-^.    tSnwm.    F.  'gma-pA— F. 
•  iMdr  PA-F.  ■  AM  iMGj.— P. 
BMMMr<<;  M.  Ctaw.         ■  on  vfii  w«*    Aup    ud 


'-  n«  MiMb  ef  Pmmoe,"  <md  "  Pa  not  affrai/d,"  prinUd  in  Lo,  and 
^UL  Song*,  f .  45-8,  faUow  ken  in  the  MB.] 


30 


igoIIotDe  me  fflanrpe. 

This  song,  says  Percy's  margiDal  note^  is  ^^  printed  in  a  collection 
of  Scots  Poems,  Edingboro',  1713,  pag.  142." 

Mens  pnetrepidana  avet  vagaH.  Led  by  Fancy,  it  throws  off 
for  the  nonce  the  fetters  of  the  body,  and  ^'  dances  through  the 
welkin."  It  inspects  the  phenomena  of  cloudland,  rejoices  rerum 
cognoscere  causae.  Then,  turning  its  gaze  downwards,  it  studies 
that  great  ant-hill  the  earth.  It  sees  mankind  rushing  to  and 
fro  upon  it,  with  all  their  various  pursuits,  humours,  passions. 
At  last  the  much-travelled  spirit  wearies.  Its  wings  droop,  and  it 
implores  its  ever-vigorous  guide  to  lead  it  no  further.  The  great 
world-prospect,  with  its  tumult  and  turmoil,  is  too  tremendous  a 
vision.     So  the  spirit  hies  it  back  to  its  home,  the  body. 


MoUtichoiy,  IN:  a  Melancholly  fancy,  out  of  my  selfe, 

t  iiniux*  tliorrow  the  weUdn  dance  I, 

all  the  world  snrvayinge,  noe  where  stayinge ; 

iik^nnrif        *     l^ke  vnto  the  fierye  elfe,* 

tivrr  innun-  ovor  tho  topps  of  hyost  mountaines  skipping, 

tiTnihi.  OMer  tho  plaines,  the  woods,  the  valleys,  tripping,* 

mill  wimmI*.  ..1      .  /•»!•• 

ouer  the  seas  without  oare  of  shipping, 

s     hollow,  me  fancy !  wither  wilt  thou  goe  ? 
•  IHIry  rife.— r.  •  Only  half  the  «  in  the  MS.— F.  •  oaro  or.- P. 


w^^ ^  r 


''^S 


loMWQiai 


SI 


It    4 


4  Ife  Wgki  Ii|^«Bia«  wMdIi 


mnwMwhUk 


giaeAwaidflr.  wt< 


bdiyir  ae  wliwa  yoa  jnaj  Ini  bold,      »»§«• 


bol 


worid  €f  gadding,  nomiiig  of  naddiiiif^ 

liold: 
aUia 
iifarlCraaiid 
f!«  1»  Ihhb  kk  liead  beomoe 


liMO  o«l  of  ftonon.    »Mk 


Shl  Smw  Boiu  iflMii  a  Inuiffiiiff  1 

|Im7  we  tnnnojUiig,  one  aaoUier  fojling, 
4  bow  I  pftsi  tliem  b je ! 
bee  lAate  aboue,  bim  (A^ito  below  *  deBpiseib ; 
bee  lAote  below,  dotb  eiraje  bim'  (^t  lyseib ; 
enerje  man  bis  plot  A  oonnter  '  plott  deTisetb. 
Hollow. 

Sbippe,  Sbipps,  Sbippo,  I  deflcrj  now  ! 

cToeexng  tbe  maine  De  goe  too,  and  try  now 

vbftt  tbej  are  proiecting  4  protecting ; 

k  wben  tb^  tnme  agaane. 

One^  beea  to  keepe  bia  conntrj  from  innadinge ; 

•ae^har^  be  ia  for  Mercbandiae  4  tradinge ; 

tbe  otber  Lyea  att  bome  like  aammera  cattle  ahadding.' 

Hf^low. 


A 


tZwB, 


biclide. 

■lUlBff  low, 

WwcnvTing 
Wfh; 


projwtlDf 


from  f  oca 
or  irmlii  la 


'  MS.  blotud.— F.        •  f  geCliiig  into  a  ilMd  or  tlie  thade.—F. 


32  HOLLOWE   ME   FANCTE. 

Hollow,  me  fiuicj,  hollow ! 
I  can't  go  I  pray  thee  come  vnto  mee,  I  can  noe  longer  follow ! 

Fancy,  come  I  pray  thee  come  &  try  [me]  ;  doe  not  flye  me ! 

back  to  me; 

44  Sithe  itt  will  noe  better  bee, 

leare  off  come,  oome  away !  Leaye  of  thy  Lofty  soringo  ! 

Jl^^tep  to  come  stay  att  home,  &  on  this  booke  be  poring  ! 

your  book.  £^^  j^^  ^j^^  ^^^  abroad,  he  hath  the  lesse  in  storinge. 

48  welcome,  my  fancye  !  welcome  home  to  mee ! 

ffins. 


33 


This  song  may  very  well  have  been  written,  as  Percy  suggests, 
by  Cleveland  to  cheer  the  garrison  of  Newark ;  when,  during 
the  Boyalist  occupation  of  it,  he  was  Judge  Advocate.  See 
Introduction  to  "  Egyptian  Queen." 

**  In  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  Newark  was  garrisoned  for  the 
King,  and  held  in  subjection  the  whole  of  this  country,  excepting 
the  town  of  Nottingham ;  and  a  great  part  of  Lincolnshire  was 
laid  under  contribution ;  here  that  unfortunate  sovereign  estab- 
lished a  mint.  .  .  .  During  this  contest  the  town  sustained 
three  sieges :  in  the  first,  all  Northgate  was  burnt  by  order  of  the 
governor.  Sir  John  Henderson ;  in  the  second,  when  under  the 
government  of  Sir  John,  afterwards  Lord,  Byron,  the  town  was 
relieved  by  the  arrival  from  Chester  of  Prince  Eupert,  who, 
according  to  Clarendon,  in  an  action  between  his  forces  and  the 
parliamentarians  under  Sir  John  Meldrum,  on  Beacon  Hill, 
half  a  mile  eastward  of  the  town,  took  four  thousand  prisoners 
and  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery;  in  the  third  siege,  after  the 
display  of  much  prowess  and  several  vigorous  sallies,  the  fortress 
remained  unimpaired ;  afterwards  Lord  Bellasis,  then  governor, 
surrendered  the  town  to  the  Scottish  army,  by  the  King's  order, 
on  the  8th  of  May,  1646.  At  the  close  of  this  siege,  the  works 
and  circumvallations  were  demolished  by  the  country  people, 
with  the  exception  of  two  considerable  earth-works,  which  are 
now  nearly  perfect,  and  are  called  the  King's  Sconce  and  the 
Queen's  Sconce  ;  about  this  time  the  castle  also  was  destroyed." 
(Lewis'  Topogr.  Diet,  of  England.) 

*  Verj'  probably  writ  by  Jack  Clcve-       Trent ;  to  Chearthe  Garrison:  where  he 
land  during  the  siege  of  Newark  upon       was  judge  adyocato. — P. 

VOL.  II.  D 


34 


NEWARKE. 


I 


Fill  tua 
cap! 


Here'fia 
health  to 
King 
Charles. 


We  dread 
not  onr  foes. 


If  Leslie  gets 
hold  of  'em 
he'll  play 
the  devil 
and  all. 


UUR :  braines  are  asleepe,  then  fyll  vs  *  a  cnpp 

of  cappering  sacke  &  clarett ; 
here  is  a  health  to  King  Charles  !  then  drinke  it  all  yp, 
4         his  canse  will  fare  better  for  itt, 

did  not  an  onld  arke  sane  no je  ^  in  a  fflood  ? 

why  may  not  a  new  arke  to  vs  be  vs  *  good  ? 
wee  dread  not  their  forces,  they  are  all  made  of  wood, 
8         then  wheele  &  tome  about  againe. 

Though  all  beyond  trent  be  sold  to  the  Scott, 

to  men  of  a  new  protestation 
if  Sandye  come  there,  twill  fall  to  their  Lott 
12         to  haue  a  new  signed  possession  ; 

but  if  once  Lesly  gett  [them]  in  his  power, 
gods  Leard !  heele  play  the  devill  &  all ! 
but  let  him  take  heed  how  hee  comes  there, 
16         lest  Sweetelipps  ring  him  a  peaJe  in  his  eare. 


Drink  to  onr 
garrison. 


I  fear  no  foe, 


for  onr 
Manrice  is 
coming. 


Then  tosse  itt  vp  merrilye,  fill  to  the  brim  ! 

wee  haue  a  new  health  to  remember ; 
heeres  a  health  to  our  garrisons  !  drinke  it  to  them, 
20         theyle  keepe  vs  all  warme  in  December. 
I  care  not  a  figg  what  enemy  comes ; 

for  wee  doe  account  them  but  hop-of-my-thmnbes ; 
for  Morrise  ^  our  prince  is  coming  amaine 
24         to  rowte  &  make  them  run  againe. 

ffins. 


'  MS.  vis  or  vus. — F. 
*  Old  Ark— Noe.~P. 


•  as.— F. 

*  Maurice. — ^P. 


flmongptft  tbr  mfrtlnt.^ 


1  of  C'ari-w'ii  pot^mt)  wna  made  in  1640,  tbe 
year  iAer  bis  death.  But  iii.-uiy  "f  them  Lad  been  eet  to  music 
dwiag  Ua  Ufa;  otiien  ii<j  (Imibl  tiad  circulated  in  MS. 

*'He  va»  A  panon,"  kuv*  <.1ari-iiiloD,  "of  u  pleasant  and 
faealioai  wit, and  made  ti^nn-,  ;»»'rii-  {.sji't-iiiliy  in  tli<- iitimroufl 
vaj),  wUoli  for  the  ibaipDeM  of  tlie  bnej  and  Uie  el^asce  of 
the  liaflnaftri  in  which  that  £yMy  ma  apread,  were  tit  least  eqoal, 
if  not  Mtpecior  to  any  (rf  that  time :  hot  hia  gloiy  wai  that  after 
fifty  yean  of  hia  life  spent  with  laaa  ■erwrity  or  exactnen  than  it 
OMght  to  have  heen,  he  died  with  great  remorse  for  that  lioenwi 
■ad  with  tike  greatflrt  manifeatation  of  Chriitianity,  that  bis  beat 


Alld^it  tba  Mirtlea  aa  I  walkat, 
loo*  A  my  tbonghta  nghta  this  *  intet^talket : 
**  tell  me,"  nid  I  in  de«pe  diitrCBse,  wiwnc»ai 

«    "  Where  may  I  find  [my  aheperdeeee.*]  ibipbcriMT 

**  Thoa  foole ! "  nud  lone,  "  Imowea  thou  not  this  ?      [pac*  iMi 
in  en^rje  thing  Ihatm  good  sbee  is.  sba'tiniii 

in  jond^r  talepe  iroe  A  secke,  iw  b<K  u  ' 

r     o  tk»  tulip, 

•     there  thon  may  find  her  lipp,  her  cheekei 

**  In  yonder  enameled  Pancye,  ^  it*  Id 

tberv  thon  iihalt  hane  her  cnryanB  eye  ; 
in  blootoe  of  peach  A  roeee  *  bndd, 
II     there  wane  the  itTvamera  of  her  blood ; 

'  A  WTT  •l*«ut  oU  Mag.    Wtil  by       emuiiom  I7  Pwj.— F. 


36 


AMONGST   THE   MIRTLES. 


her  hand  in 
the  Uly, 


the  fcent  of 
her  bosom 
on  the  hills. 


"  In  '  brightest  Lyllyes  thai  heere  stand, 
the  ^  emblemes  of  her  whiter  hands  ; 
in  yonder  rising  hill,  their  smells  ' 
16     such  sweet  as  in  her  bosome  dwells." 


I  went  to 
plack  these 
flowers, 

bntall 
yanished. 


So  shall  pasB 
my  joy ! 


"  It  is  trew,"  said  I ;  &  therevpon 
I  went  to  plncke  them  one  by  one 
to  make  of  parts  a  vnyon  ; 
20     butt  on  a  sadden  all  was  gone. 

With  thai  I  stopt,  sayd,  "  lone,*  these  bee, 
fond  man,  resemblance-is  of  thee  *  ; 
&  as  these  flowers,  thy  loyes  shall  dye 
24     Euen  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 


"  And  all  thy  hopes  of  her  shall  wither 
Like  these  short  sweetes  soe  knitt  together." 


ffi[n8.] 


»  The.— p. 

*  are.— P. 

•  there  smells. — P. 


*  8top*d.    S^  Lore  &c.— P. 

*  resemblances  of  thee. — P. 


37 


S.i5«iii  of  a  very  rimilftr  kind  are  common  enough  in  the  collec- 
ti>>ns  of  Royalist  poems:  as,  for  instance,  ''The Humble  Petition 
of  the  House  of  Commons  ^  in  il  CoUectian  of  Loyal  Songs 
vrritUn  against  the  Rump  ParHammU  between  the  years  1639 
aud  1661,  1731. 


If  ChArict  tlum  wilt  bat  be  lo 
To  giTe  u  Imrt  to  take  oar  mind. 

Of  all  thyitoro; 
Wbrn  w«  thy  Loyal  Sabjecta,  And 
Th*aat  nothing  kpft  to  giTe  behind 

Well  aak  no  more. 

aoil  **  Pym*s  Anarchy  **  in  the  same  collection : 

Aak  me  no  more,  why  there  appears 
Daily  loeh  troope  of  Dragoonere  ? 
Since  it  it  reqniiite,  yoa  know, 
They  rob  cum  primkgkK 

Aak  me  no  more,  why  fh>m  Blackwall 
f  f  n-et  TumultH  cumf  into  Whitehall  ? 

^:tli*c  It's  itllijW'il,  \*y  frit:  CODM'Ot, 

Tb*  I'riTili'Kv  of  i*arliameDt. 

A  ok  m*-  Dd  mi  in-,  for  I  irr^w  dull. 

Why  Ilothani  k-ft  th-  Town  of  Hull? 

TKi-  anovtT  I  in  liriff  Jit  Miip, 

Ail  tLmgk  «L-n*  thuit  wLm  I'ym  voa  King. 

1  If  K  :  wtirM  is  rluui^iil,  k  wi^c  Imuc  choycos,         N<>t  iu«j»n. 

Iiut  nm-l 

ii#'t  \*\  riiont  ri*a»oii,  hut  most  voyces ;  voni-wruu?. 

th«-  Lvtin  i<i  tramplctl  by  the  Muusc, 
4       thi-  lowi-r  i!>  thr  vjipt-r  house,  Tix-L.^.r 

d'  iliU**  tritiii  lauH  '  onlerH  romi',  upi^r. 

hut  iHiw  thfir  ordcn  laua  '  from  v. 

■  A  rf'^^1  </M  Cavilii-r  luii^.  —I*.  •  "iu-  ram.— F 


38 


THE   WORLDE   IS   CHANGED. 


They  want 
to  enslave 
their  king. 


and  pnt  him 
onder  Pym. 


In  all  humilitye  they  crauo 
8      theire  soueraigne  to  be  their  slane, 

beseeching  him  that  hee  wold  bee 

betrayd  to  them  most  Loyallye  ; 

for  it  were  Meeknesse  soe  in  him 
12     to  be  a  vice-Roy  vntoy  Pyim.^ 


Charles 
would  rather 
not. 


16 


If  that  hee  wold  but  once  Lay  downe 
his  scepter,  maiestye,  &  crowne, 
hee  shalbe  made  in  time  to  come 
the  greatest  prince  in  christendome. 
Charles,  att  this  time  hauing  noe  neede, 
thankes  them  as  much  as  if  they  did. 


Ko  petitions 
are  to  be 
presented 
but  their 
own. 


Petitions  none  must  be  presented 
20      but  what  are  by  themselves  innented, 

that  once  a  month  the  thinke  it  ffitting 

to  fast  from  soine  ^  because  from  sittinge  ; 

Such  blessings  to  the  Land  are  sent 
24      by  priuiledgo  of  Parlaiment. 

ffins. 


'  unto  Pym.— P.         «  ?  MS.  sone,  with  a  dot  over  the  first  stroke  of  the  n. — ^F. 


Zt>t  tribe  off  Banbur^r.' 


Tm  tfog.  Dot  before  printed  bo  &r  as  we  know,  gives  lut 
iiMoleiit  Cknlier  Mcoont,  pat  in  the  mouth  of  a  Puritan,  of  the 
aecnp«Uoo  of  Bubary  Itja  KojalUt  force.  Uaubiiry  wasviaited 
more  than  once  by  such  a  force  during  the  Civil  War  of  1642-6. 
Tb*  Tint  b«ni  ivfemii]  tti  inu>  paid  in  the  vtry  beginning  of  tbi^ 
diaturbancM,  eotoo  •cTratveD  dnys  la-fore  the  Royal  StflQiliu'd  wan 
w(  Dp  at  Noltiogbiua.  WUxn  tho  King  and  the  I'aiUainent 
RMfli  ioouled  on  having  thu  uanagement  of  the  militia,  tbi' 
Pjcmer  appointed  the  Earl  of  Northampton  to  "  array  "  it  in 
Warvickahire,  the  latter  l^rd  Brook.  In  July  the  Parliament 
ft>at«d  it*  deputy  »ix  pieces  of  ordnana^  to  Htri<ngtb<-n  hiMcantle, 
at  Wamridt.  The»e  were  eonveyeJ  a«  far  tu  Banbury  by  tho 
nth.  The  attempt  to  convey  them  on  to  Warwick  waa  barred 
by  Lord  NortbBin|i1on.  The  two  lords  at  lost  ngreod  that  they 
•bovld  be  carried  bock  to  Banbury,  and  that  neither  party  sliould 
MMBoVs  them  witliout  priog  the  other  three  days*  notice.  On 
Ibc  fth  and  7lb  of  AuguM  great  aUurm  began  to  prevail  in  tbo 
lows.  tb«t  tbe  eiunay  ina  meditating  an  assault,  and  a  (eixnre  of 
Ifce  aid  ordoance.  On  Sunday  night,  the  7th,  the  enrtny  w«c 
•faoMered  by  «  mooI,  coining  down  llardwick  knc  in  great  foroo. 

%m.  **  tbe  Mght  growing  eitreme  dark,  they  furbare  all  that 
s^bt."  Tben  next  raomtng  a  parU^  wan  held,  whm  the 
^nlien  by  tttnu  ci^oled  and  threatened  tbe  fearful  citizens. 

Atbt^- 
1W  towm  bnag  In  a  Md  eaae,  not  Imowiug  hnw  they  woold  deal 

mA  Ihaa.  aipwl  tbentMlviM  and  town  on  Uunday  monuBg  [tbe 

M),  i^  ia  a  wbilo  afW  Uioy  otino  in  with  ahnnt  £  or  600  bune*. 


40  THE   TRIBE   OF   BANBUBTE. 

bat  300  good  ones,  and  the  rest  sorry  jades,  anything  [they]  could. 
get  from  the  poor  countrey  men,  some  at  work ;  and  as  beggarlj- 
riders  set  on  them,  though  for  the  present  they  flourished  with  money^ 
yet  their  cloths  bewrayed  them  to  be  neither  gentlemen  nor  CavalierB- 
And  having  fil'd  the  town  with  horses  the  chief  of  them  came  tc 
the  Red  Lion  Inne,  and  desired  to  speak  with  Colonell  Feines  andi 
Captaine  Vivers,  who  were  in  the  Castle,  to  whom  reply  was  made- . 
they  should,  if  they  would  send  two  as  considerable  men  in  lieo^ 
which  they  did ;  then  they  produced  the  Commission  of  Array,  and 
required  them  to  deliver  the  Ordnance,  otherwise  they  would  take 
them  by  force,  and  fire  the  town.     And  having  obtained  that  they 
came  for,  the  ordnance  and  ammunition  thereunto  belonging,  they 
cleared  the  town  againe,  and  were  all  departed  before  night,  who 
carried  them  to  the  E.  of  Northamptons  house  [Compton  Wyngate],| 
and  it  was  thought  they  intended  to  goe  to  Warwicke  castle  the  next 
day,  but  the  Lord  Brooke  had  noe  notice  from  the  Earle  of  three 
dayes  warning,  as  was  agreed  between  them  ;  There  was  also  Colonell 
Lunsford,  and  divers  Lords  too  long  to  name ;  There  was  the  Lord 
Wilmot,  who  kept  backe  the  town  of  Atherbury  from  coming  in  to 
aide  Banbury,  and  threatned  he  would  hang  up  the  men  and  send  the 
souldiers  to  their  wives  and  children;    There   was  also  the    Lord 
Dunsmore. — "Proceedings  at  Banbvry  since  the  Ordnance  went  down 
for  the  Lord  Brooke  to  fortifio  Warwick  Castle,"  4to,  1642.     Among 
the    King's  Pamphlets   in  the  Brit.  Mus.  apud  Beesleifs  "  Hi^tonj 
of  Banbury;'  p.  302. 

On  July  7  UN  :  the  7th  day  on  the  7  month, 

most  Lamentablye 
the  Cavi-  *^®  T^QU  of  Babylon  did  spoyle 

^^nb^^  *        t^e  tribe  of  Banburye. 


A  brother  post  from  couentiy 
ofLunaforf'J  ryding  in  a  blew  rockett,^ 

sayes,  "  Colbronde  Lunsford  comes,  I  saw, 
8        w/th  a  childs  arme  hang  in  his  pockett." 


coming, 


'  A.-S.  roCy  clothing,  an  outer  garment,  Fullo  wol  [y-]  clothed  was  Fraunchise, 

a  coat,  jacket,  vest :    Bosworth,  Germ.  For  ther  is  no  cloth  sittith  bet 

rocky  a  coat.     Chaucer  describes  dame  On  damysoUe,  than  doth  rocket. 

Fraunchise   in   a  rackety  see  Fairholt's  A  womman  wel  more  fetys  is 
Glossary : 


nu  TBm  or  bahbubtb. 


41 


IS 


Then  wee  called  np  oar  men  of  warr, 
jonnge  Vineni  Cooke  A  Deny 8,^ 

whome  onr  Lord  Sea  *  placed  vnder 
hia  Sonne  Matter  ffyenys.' 


•adeaUed 
ontoariMii 
of  war, 


16 


When  hee  came  neere,  he  sent  ts  word 
that  hee  was  coming  downe, 

ft  wold,  mles  wee  lett  him  in, 
Oranado^  all  our  towne. 


IwrtTinnrfoinl 
MUlie'd 


gmadoonr 
town, 


9U 


Then  was  onr  Colhrandc — fines,^ 
in  a  most  wocfoU  case  ; 

fur  neither  ho  nor  I  did  know 
who  this  granado 


me. 


3(4 


wcc  had  8  g^onnea  called  ordinance,^ 
&  fiiurc  score  Mosqnetiers,' 

jTC'tt  all  this  wold  not  scrao  to  stop 
those  Philistime  canileeres. 


•Bdoargmis 


[page  197]   eonldn't  itop 
hiin. 


( II Mill  jKOpIe,  tilt*  did  send  in  men 
fnini  Dorchestor  <t  Wickam  ; 

I'll  wht-r  this  (ryant  did  them  set*, 
;/><>•  i  Ixii*'/,  how  he  did  kick  lian  **  ! 


..<%*«  t.'j  '.*  .1  cx>{«-:  llitiiille 
i  I  -:.  .V 
.    ■     4  ?r»i.'  .   1  -i*^  j; il^  nliiii*.  ^r 
:     .  .  ..-     r   --'ir**  iirii.t-n.  Wfriif 

.    .   r     •»   ! ''.  «^«r  tbufttfvkrfulluw* 


ing  the  <■  in  the  MS.— F. 
»  Say.  — P. 
■  Ki'-nii*!*.     I*. 

•  Fr.  (rntint/r.  A  PoinojET'inf  t ;  aKo, 
a  ball  of  wiM-tir*'.  niailt*  likt*  u  romi'- 
trmiii  t !  (% it ^niw.  An  irun  canf  tilltMl 
with  ]HiWiliT  iiml  I'ita  of  irt>n.  likf  tho 
•MMilii  in  u  i)umfi;r.iutitc :  Wi-difwwinl. 
—  F. 

'  Fi«  nui  -.     I*. 

•  Opliiiiinoi*.  iill  Mirtu  of  Artillrn*.  ur 
gr.  :il  <tu»-  u-M  in  War.     {'hillipH.  '  F. 

'  M'j-jm  tu-p«*.  r.  Thf  Iii!»l  f  i»  lumlo 
uvi  r  .1  y  in  Thi-  MS. — F. 

•  kick  'cm.-  -K 


42 


THE  TBIBE  OF  BANBURTE. 


Heflwore 
aod  threat- 
ened as  00 


32 


*'  Yoa  round  heads,  rebells,  rongs,'  "  quoth  hee, 

'*  He  crop  &  slitt  eche  eare, 
&  leane  70a  neither  anne  nor  l^e 

much  longer  then  jour  heere  * !  " 


that  we 
opened  our 
gates, 


36 


Then  wee  sett  ope  our  gates  '  full  wjde ; 

they  swarmed  in  like  bees, 
&  they  were  all  arrajdd  in  boffe 

thicker  then  our  towne  cheese.^ 


andbU 
blood- 
thirsty men 


40 


Now  god  deliner  vs,  we  pray, 
from  such  blood-thirstye  men, 

forom  ^  Leayathan  Lunsford 
who  eateth  our  children ! 


hnng  us  and 

plundered 

ns. 


44 


ffor  Banburye,  the  tinkers  crye, 
you  hanged  vs  vp  by  twelues ; 

now  since  Lunsford  hath  plundred  you, 
you  may  goo  hang  your  selues. 

ffins. 


*  ro{^es. — P. 

*  haire.  N.B.  The  Roundheads  were 
so  called  from  wearing  their  hair  cropt 
short. — P. 


■  cater  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  Banbury  Cheese.— P. 

•  this.— P. 


["Doe  you meane to  overthrowe rw^,'*  and  "A Maid 8f  aYounge Man" 
printed  in  Lo.   and  Hum,   Songs,  p.  49-52,  follow  here    in 

the  MS.] 


0|> :  mr  t  !(lp  mr  { 

Tbb  Editors  hare  not  found  aay  printed  copy  of  tbu  aong. 
Mr.  Qappdl  iororma  them  that  there  is  a  tune  in  the  Dancing 
Matter  of  1657  entitled  "Ay  me,  or  the  Symphony,"  but  it 
nqnirea  wordi  of  a  different  metre  to  that  of  this  song. 

"  A  fling  at  the  Soots,  probably  writ  in  Jamee  I.  time "  is 
Percy's  MS.  note ;  or,  h  Mr.  Halliwell  says  of  Joky  will  prove 
•  yemHUman^  a  "  satire  .  .  doubtlessly  lerelled  against  the 
■vDcroa*  train  of  Scotch  adrenturers  who  wisely  emigrated  to 
England  in  the  time  of  James  I.,  in  the  full  expectation  of 
being  distinguished  by  the  particular  favour  and  patronage  of 
their  native  soTereign."  Poor  Sialy,  the  chief  speaker  in  the 
picer,  bmeota  the  dropping  off  of  her  suitors.  She  once  had 
twelre,  and  now  she  has  but  one.  The  firat  was  handsome ;  the 
tm  futlowing  were  all  well-to-do  in  the  worid  in  one  way  or 
Aa->thrr;  the  one  that  yet  remaliu  has  no  merit  of  either  nort. 
Tbe  'Xbers  were  WeUh,  Dutch,  French,  or  Hpanisb ;  thia  one  is 
k  W.YTT  Soiftchman.  A  doleful  state  of  tliingH ;  Wt  the  best  mubl 
Le  Ebade  of  it.  At  any  rate,  as  tbitt  last  lingering  wooer  is  a 
\je^gmt,  be  can  never  be  declared  bankrupt.  But  indeed  b^ging 
M  the  way  to  wealth  now-a-days— begging  for  appointinenbi,  Ac. 
la  J'jky  xcill  profe  such  begging  is  introducei)  oa  the  cauae  of 
tl^  trttrrellous  change  of  the  hero's  cowhide  Rhoes  into  SpaniNli- 
Wath<«  oDCi  decked  with  roses,  of  his  twclvepenny  stockings 
at!jj>'Blken  blewe,"  of  his  list  garters  into  silk  tasselled  with 
I    p-id  sod  nlver,  &c. 

htm  nt  AnUJagUi  in  Salitval  S->»g$  (IVrry  Swielr).  p.  VIZ. 


44 


AT   me:    AT   ME. 


Thj  hose  and  thj  dablett,  which  were  full  plAine, 
Whereof  great  store  of  lice  [did]  containe. 
Is  tunied  nowe.     Well  fare  thj  braine 
That  can  by  begginge  this  nmirJayne! 

Bj  mj  fav,  and  bj  Saint  Ann, 

Joky  will  prove  a  gentilman  ! 

Moved  by  this  disinterested  consideration — that  begging  is  the 
winning  game — Sisly  resolves  to  give  the  constant  Scot  the  right 
to  beg  for  her  as  well  as  himself. 


Oh  dear  I 
I  had  twelre 
■niton, 


and  all  are 

gone  but 

one, 

the  worgt  of 

aU, 


arefirnlar 
weed. 


The  rest 
were  good, 


this  one's 
naught, 


"  Ay  :  me,  ay  me,  pore  sisley,  &  vndone  * ! 

I  had  12  sators,  now  I  have  bat  one ! 

they  all  were  wealthy ;  had  I  beene  but  wise  ; 

4     now  haue  all  left  me  since  I  hane  beene  soe  nice,' 
bat  only  one,  and  him  all  Maidens  scome, 
for  hees  the  worst  I  thinko  that  ere  was  borne." 
"  peace  good  sisley !  peace  h  a&j  noe  more ! 

8      bad  mends  in  time ;  good  salae  heales  many  a  sore." 

*'  fiaith  such  a  one  as  I  cold  none  but  loue,' 
for  *  few  or  none  of  them  doe  constant  prone ; 
a  man  in  shape,  proportion,  looke,  and  showe, 

12     much  like  a  Mashroome  in  one  night  doth  grow ; 
proud  as  a  lay  thats  of  a  comely  hew, 
cladd  like  a  Musele  in  a  capp  of  blew.'  " 
"  peace,  good  sisley !  peace,  &  say  noe  more ! 

16     be  Merry,  wench,  &  lett  the  welkin  rore  !" 

"  The  first  I  had  was  framed  in  bewtyes  mold, 
the  second :  S'l  and  4*J*  had  store  of  gold, 
the  5.  6.  7.  8*^  had  trades  eche  one, 
20      the  best  had  goods  &  lands  to  liue  vpon ; 

Now  may  I  weepe,  sigh,  sobb,  &  ring  my  hands, 
since  this  hath  neither  witt,  trade, ^oods,  nor  Land[8.] 


If 


*  I'm  vndone. — ^P. 

«  Particular;  not  Fr.  niais,  a  simple, 
witlesse,  vnexperienced  gull.  Nice,  dull, 
simple:  Cotgraye. — F. 


*  As  none  but  I  coidd  love. — ^P. 

*  But.— P. 

*  The  Scotch  cap.    See  Skw^eap  fir 
me  in  Sai,  Songs,  p.  130,  &c. — F. 


1 


AT   Kl:    AT   HK.  '* 

**  {mmtf.  gtwd  ai-l^ ;  peace  Jk  tftke  (fcat  one 
tlkmt  stajM  bdimd  whra  k11  tlie  rest  aie  gone !  " 

"  B»  [ii,]  H '  tm^M  doe  »»y,  noe  renegatoe,* 

Boa  PoTtngall,  Oallowne,  or  reformato  * ; 

bat  b)  pl^Tne  terniM  Bome  bbj  lie  is  &  scott,  ■  Bnt, 

Uot  bj  hu  vitU  aome  old  cast  suite  hath  gott,  mu. 

A  BOW  ia  M  *  briake  *  aa  mj  *  Brutow  Taylor, 

A  iwaggara  Ukv  a  puider  or  a  aaylor.'  " 

"  loMB  him,  aialey,  kisae  him,  he  nay  prone  the  beat, 

A  vaa  him  kindly,  bat  witt  bee  aU  the  rest." 

"  One  WM  a  welchman,  her  wold  *  acome  to  crye ;  ^5,^ 

A  3  wei!«  Dutchmen  tttat  aiU  *  dnmke  wold  bee ;  Wtkii. 

A  6  were  frenchemen  that  were  pockyo  proode ; 

A  o^  a  ^MBjard  IMat  oold  bragg  alowd. 

Now  aD  ai«  gooe,  A  way  "  not  me  a  figge, 

b«t  one  poon  Scott  who  caa  doe  nought  bnt  begg.' 

'  take  him,  aialey  !  take  him,  for  itt  ia  noe  donbt, 

Ua  trMlea  Uot  heggi,  heele  nener  proofe '  <  banqneront." 

"  T^ay,  mre.  Tie  hane  him,  for  all  people  say  ^^  i^  uk, 

that  mm  by  begging  grow  rich  now  a  day,  bi^ni'.  > 

A  iJuit  oftentimes  is  gotten  wi'th  a  word  »■ : 

ait  ^TT*I  mrns  hands  Ihnt  ncTter  was  woone  by  sword, 
then  welcome  Scotchman,  wee  will  w(kIc<1  beo, 
A  one  day  tbon  shall  begg  for  thcc  and  mec."  ud  br-n  twn 

-  wcU  njd,  lislcy  !  well  said  !  on  another  day, 
by  begging  then  maiat  wraro  a  garland  gay  !  " 

V.  mrcml  thf  1  liidiMl  OScNs.     Fhillir*, 

Hp.  rt/„rmUo.  rr-  '  It  m.j  b..  a/  in  ihr  MS.-F. 

iruM  Itimkia   BiTnrniitii  nrffi.ffrmrrf  '  And  Dowi  u  liHsk.— P. 

'jLir    as    fXKrvr   wbov    CnupaUT   or  *  anr. — t*. 

T-v.  ■  diabudML  ud  tM  b*  cDDtiDn'd  '  ?  .M.'>.  JnjIcir.^F. 

•  ■kU><«Wlf  Pa7^  MiUIiMiw  iatbt  *  har  wold,  &^-.~I>. 

>H  ^    I-wwUrmtmt,  ud    kcapw  bi>  *  uilt.— P. 

K«M  ««  WiaiintTT  Aln  a  Opnifmu  '•  vigh.-I'. 

•w  wma  ■■  •  Tolaalwr  in  a  Man  of  "  Tbr  Han  that  bqp  will  nerr  pran 


K" 


46 


ffiaine  :  tooKrt  :  I  rfeangt: 


[l*gelW] 


This  is  the  song  of  one  who  entertains  a  supreme  horror  of 
living  and  dying  an  old  maid.  She  has  been  told  by  old  wives, 
no  doubt  well  informed  on  the  subject,  that  those  who  do  so  are 
employed  subsequently  in  "  leading  apes  in  hell ; "  *  after  which 
singular  occupation  she  feels  no  great  hankering.  "To  the 
church,"  then,  is  the  word.     Ding-dong  away,  Marriage  bells. 


I  want  to 
change  my 
maiden  life, 


8 


for  I'm 
nearly  six- 
teen, 


12 


t  ATNIE  wold  I  change  my  maiden  liffe 
to  tast  of  loues  true  loyes." 
"  What  ?  liffe  !  woldest*  thou  chuse  to  bee  a  wiffe  ? 

maids  wishes  are  but  toyes.** 
^*  how  can  there  bee  a  greater  hell  then  line  a  maid 
soe  lowg,3 
a  mayd  soe  long  ? 
to  the  church  ring  out  the  Marriage  bells, 
ding  dong,  ding  dong,  ding  dong  !"  . 

"  Beffore  that  15  yeeres  were  spent, 

I  knew,  &  haue  a  sonnu." 
"  how  old  art  thou  ?  "  "  sixteene  next  Lent." 

"  alas,  wee  are  both  vndone  !  " 
how  can  there  bee  &c. 


*  Mr.  Dyce  says :  "  The  only  instances 
of  the  expression  leading  apes  in  (or  into) 
hell,  which  at  present  occur  to  me,  are 
these : — 

"  '  —  and  he  that  is  less  than  a  man, 
I  am  not  for  him :  therefore  I  will  even 
take  sixpence  in  earnest  of  the  bear- 
ward,  and  lead  his  apes  into  hell.* — 
Shakespeare's  Much  ado  about  Nothing, 
act  ii.  sc.  1. 

"  '  —  but  keeping  my  maidenhead  till 
it  was  stale,  I  am  condemned  to  lead  apes 
in  hellJ — Shirley's  Love-Tricks,  act  iii. 


sc.  6 ;  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  63,  ed.  Giffard 
and  Dyce. 

"  This  phrase,  which  is  still  in  common 
use,  never  has  been  (and  never  wUl  he) 
satisfactorily  explained.  Steevens  si^- 
gests,  '  That  women  who  refused  to  b^ 
children,  should,  after  death,  be  con- 
demned to  the  care  of  apes  in  lendio^* 
strings,  might  have  been  considered  ai 
an  act  of  posthumous  retribution.' " — ^F. 

'  why  would'st. — P. 

«  ?  MS.— F.     80  long.— P. 


rAlM!  VOLOB  1   CHAHaX. 

**  BaidM,  I  liuint  un  old  wiffe  t«U 

Uat  an  tanfl  mKida  mort  dje." 
"  wbai  mart  thej'  doe  F  "  "  lead  ftpes  in  hell ! 

m  diMbU  dflstinye." 

"  A  w«e  will  lead  noe  apu  in  kell ; 

■  weeledunge  oarmaideB  song,  our  maiden  w 
to  tl>e  duvh  ring  ost  the  Uarriage  belli, 

WOT  haoa  lined  tme  isayds  to  *  longe." 


«  lath  fiu  in  Um  1I8.-F. 


48 


This  song  occurs,  as  Mr.  Chappell  remarks,  in  the  GoUlen 
Garland  of  Pmicebj  Delight,  3rd  edition,  1620.  Mr.  Chappell 
adds  a  fourtfi  stanza  from  later  copies,  "  such  as  Wife  InterprcteTy 
third  edition,  8vo.  1671  :" 

If  I  hare  wronged  jou,  teU  me  wherein. 

And  I  will  soon  amend  it ; 
In  recompense  of  such  a  sin. 

Here  is  mv  heart,  1*11  send  it. 
If  that  will  not  vour  merry  more, 

Then  for  my  life  I  care  not ; 
Then.  O  then,  torment  me  still, 

And  take  my  life  and  spare  not. 

He  gives  the  tune  to  which  the  song  was  sung,  composed  by 
Tliomas  Ford  (one  of  the  musicians  in  the  suite  of  Prince  Henry, 
the  eldest  son  of  James  I.),  who  published  it  in  his  Muaick  of 
Sundrie  KiruleSy  in  1607. 


It  fim  JgSt,  When  ffirst  I  saw  her  face,  I  resolued  » 

to  honor  &  renowne  thee  ; 
but  if  I  be  disdayned,  I  wishe 
4         that  I  had  neu^r  knowne  thee, 
me^o^e!*^''  I  asked  leauc  ;  you  bade  me  loue ; 

is  itt  now  time  to  chyde  mee  ? 
O  :  no  :  no  :  no  !  I  loue  you  still,  what  fortune  eucf 
betyde  mee ! 

8     If  I  admire  or  praise  yon  too  much, 

that  fortune  [you]  might  *  forgiue  mee ; 
or  that  my  hand  hath  straid  but  to  touch,* 
thenn  might  you  iustly  leaue  mee, 

'  thco  I  rcsolv'd.— P.     «  that  fault  you  might.— P.     ■  MS.  teach.— F.    totooch.— P. 


vruKS  rim  I  MVB. 


It     bni  I  that  lik4«l,  A  von  Mot  loned, 
it  DOW  A  tiino  to  wrangle  ? 
O    bo;  bo;   do,  my  hart  U  ffixt,  A  will  not  E 


Tbo  MD,  wboM  bauua  most  glorions  in, 

wjwtalh  >  KM  beholdm- ; 
joiv  &m  fcee,  past  all  oompan, 

—till  mj  fciat  hart  the  bolder. 
whwi  bewtjre  Ukea,  i:  witt  delights, 

A  ahowM  of  Lone  doe  bind  mee ; 
tben,  then  1  0  there  I  whenoenor  I  goe, 

Del— neny  hart  behind  meg ! 


•  118.  ft  imAmL— F. 


["A   On^tmt  fur    fwlitra,"    (hmI    "Xiy«    oZtnu,"   jrniifaii    m 
Lo.  Md  Hun.  8oiigi,p.  &S-56,/oUo«  Aeni  m  (fca  JifS.] 


50 


feoto  faprt  sffttt  ht^' 

This  well-known  song  by  George  Wither  (1590-1667)  appeared 
in  1619,  appended  to  his  Fidslia,  and  again  in  Juvenilia,  in  1633, 
in  "  Fair  Virtue  the  Mistress  of  Philarete."  It  was  reprinted 
again  and  again,  sometimes  with  another  stanza.  The  version 
here  given  is  slightly  corrupt.  "  A  copy  of  this  song,*'  says  Mr. 
Chappell,  *'is  in  the  Pepys  collection,  i.  230,  entitled  A  new  song 
of  a  young  man's  opinion  of  the  diflference  between  good  and 
bad  women.  To  a  pleasant  new  tune.  It  is  also  in  the  second 
part  of  the  Golden  Garland  of  Princely  Delights,  third  edition 
1620,  entitled  The  Shepherd's  Resolution.  To  the  tune  of  The 
Young  Man's  Opinion." 


Shall  I  kiU 
myself 


because  my 
love  doesn't 
care  for  me  ? 


Not  I. 


8 


oHALL:  I,  wasting  in  dispayre, 

dye  because  a  womans  fayre  ? 
or  make  pale  my  cheekes  with  care  ' 

because  anothers  rose-yee  '  are  ? 
Be  shee  fairer  then  the  day 

or  the  flowry  Meads  in  may, 
if  shee  thinke  not  well  of  mee, 

What  care  I  how  fayro  shee  bee  ? 


Shall  my  foolish  hart  be  pind 

because  I  see  a  woman  kind, 
or  a  well  disposed  nature 
12         With  *  a  comlye  feature  ? 


'  An  elegiint  old  Song  by  Withers. 
This  song  is  in  the  Tea  Tabic  Miscellany 
of  Allan  Eamsay,  1753,  yage  304.  But 
the  Printed  Copy  wants  the  2^  stanza : — 
it  containing  only  three.  It  is  also  in 
Dryden's  Misc.  V.  6.  p.  336,  with  the 


omission  of  St.  2*  — P. 

'  shall  my  Cheeks  look  pale  with  care 
(printed  Copy). — P. 

■  rosie  are. — P. 

*  matched  or  joined. — P. 


IIUW    VMfii*  SHU  BE.  51 

Be  flliM-  Mwkor,  kinikr,  then 

Um  tortledoue  or  pL-litsan, 
if  «hca  be  not  boo  to  me,  H^d*^"^ 

l«        whfttauvl  how  kind  aheebeeP  Mtefo. 

Shall  m  wom&ns  rertnes  ■  aooe  emi 

nw  lo  penmh  for  hvr  1ou«,  C^*t 

€ir  hrr  worUi^  merritta  kiiowne 
»         nftke  HM  qoiUf  fot}ri-tt  mine  owne  ? 
wm  ilicKi  with  Ihat  f^ooduew  bleit, 

a»  nuty  mcritt  noine  uf  best, 
if  tht»  bv  not  »oc  ti>  mc, 
M        what  ou«  I  bow  guwl  >ih«e  bee  f  hml 

■Bo  iliea  good  or  kind  ur  t^jn, 
I  wOl  nentrmon  diii[>[ur;] 
if  abeo  looe  mc,  thb  bi'lmne, 
M         I  irflt  djB  «ra  iliee  sliiiU  g[reine ;] 

if  «bM  altittit  me  when  I  woe,  it  ihtrilgk 

I  will  ■nirne  St  letl  bur  goe.  MW«a. 

or  if  thtv  W  not  *  for  iim;, 
ta        wh«t  0H«  I  *  for  whom  aheo  bee  P  wb.t««»i 


■  r-a-w  (tifiaud  OopTV-P-    .  ,  -  . 

*  TW  fonowiag  foar  lum  ara  vnttcD  *  A  wMa  itrnck  gut  follow*  /  in  tbe 

iM  IB  iw  Ma— F.  —    " 


•Ltr-Me   joifl    (A«    Hkepard"    and   " JUtni    Mai    mure,"   printed    i 
L«.  ■Bd  Hnm.  Songa,  ;>.  57-60,  /oUota  hen  in  /A0  ifS.] 


52 


Come  :  Come  :  Come  :^  ciw«»3 

This  is,  says  Percy  in  his  marginal  note  in  the  Folio,  "  A  curious 
old  drinking  song,  supposed  to  be  sung  by  an  old  gouty  Baccha- 
nal." Not  content  with  fellow  mortal  topers,  the  old  roisterer 
calls  on  all  the  Gods  to  join  him  in  his  carouse.  Not  his  the 
Lotus-eater's  conception  of  the  Deities.  He  does  not  think 
that  "  careless  of  mankind  they  lie  beside  their  nectar  .  .  where 
they  smile  in  secret,  looking  over  wasted  lands,"  smile  at  the 
music  centred  in  the  doleful  song  of  lamentation,  the  ancient 
tale  of  wrong,  from  the  '*  ill-used  race  of  men  that  cleave  the  soil.'* 
He  sees  them  madding  their  brains  for  "  a  little  care  of  the 
world's  afiFair,"  "  utterly  consumed  with  sharp  distress  "  at  the 
world's  misery ;  and  he  calls  on  them  to  be  such  fools  no  longer — 
to  "  let  mortals  do  as  well  as  they  may  " — while  they,  the  Gods, 
take  up  their  wine  and  drink  with  him.  Mars,  Momus,  Mercury, 
Apollo,  Vulcan,  the  great  Jove  himself,  dread  Juno,  and  Venus, 
Goddess  of  Love — none  are  excused — all  must  join ;  the  grape 
Ls  sweet,  and  wine  for  them  as  well  as  men :  let  all  qua£f,  and 
sing  fa  la  la ! — F. 

Let's  be  joUyi  vOME:   Come,  come  !  shall  wee  Masque  or  mum? 

by  my  holly  day,*  what  a  coyle  is  heere  ! 
some  must  ^  sway,  &  some  obay  I, 
4         or  else,  I  pray,  who  stands  in  fearo  ? 
Though  though  ^  my  toe,  that  I  limpe  on  soe,* 

we  h&Te 

the  gout,  doe  cause  my  woe  &  wellaway, 

wine'ii  make  yctt  this  sweet  spring  &  another  thing 

^ "  ^'  8         ^vill  make  you  sing  fa.la.la.la.la. 

'  A  curious  old  drinking  song,  sup-  •  mist  in  the  MS. — F. 

posed  to  be  sung  by  an  old  gouty  Bac-  *  what  tho'. — P. 

chanal.— P.  *  bc.  with  the  Qout. — ^P. 

»  Dame.— P. 


COME  :  COME  :  COME. 


53 


ffellow  gods,  will  jon  fall  ait  odds  ? 

what  a  fury  madds  your  morttall  ^  braines  ! 
for  a  litle  care  of  the  worlds  affare, 
12         win  you  frett,  will  you  square,*  will  you  vexe,  will 
you  vai[r  ?]  ' 
No,  gods !  no  !  let  fury  go,^ 

&  Morttalls  doe  as  well  as  they  may  ! 
for  this  sweet  &c. 


Don't  bothe  r 

abont 

basinew. 


16     Gh)d  of  Moes,*  wtth  thy  toting  Nose, 

with  thy  mouth  that  growes  to  thy  Lolling  eare, 
stretch  thy  mouth  &om  North  to  south, 
&  quench  thy  drought*  in  vinigar ! 
20     though  thy  toung  be  too  Large  &  too  Longe 
to  sing  this  song  of  fa  la  la  la  la, 
loyne  Momus  grace  to  vulcans  pace, 

&  with  a  filthy  face  crye  "  waw  waw  waw  !  " 


Momns, 


drink 
vinegar  I 


Sing  with  oa 
somehow  I 


24    Brother  Mine,  thou  ^  art  god  of  wine ! 

win  you  tast  of  the  wine  ®  to  the  companye  ? 
King  of  quafife,  carrouse  &  doffe 
your  Liquor  of,  and  follow  mee  ! 
28     *  Sweete  soyle  of  Exus  He, 

wherin  this  coyse  *®  was  eue/y  day, 
for  this  sweet  &c. 


BacchoB, 


join  me  in  a 
bowl  I 


Mercurye,  thou  Olimpian  spye  ! 
32         wilt  thou  wash  thine  eye  in  this  fontaine  cleere  ? 
when  *  *  you  goe  to  the  world  below, 

you  shall  light  of  noe  such  Liquor  there, 


Mercury, 
drink! 


'  immortal,  qu. — P. 
'  i.  e.  quarrel. — P. 

*  will  you  vex  your  vaines. — P.  Voir 
for  Vfer,  turn.  It  should  rhyme  with 
tqtuire. — Chappell. 

*  ?  MS.  goit,  with  1 1  blotched  out.— F. 

*  Mows,  i.  e.  Mockery.  Sc.  Momus. — P. 


•  drowth.— P. 
'  that.— P. 

•  vine. — P. 

•  To  the.— P. 

>•  ?  MS.  coyle.— F. 
Halliwell. 
•'  whene'er. — P. 


?  coyse^  body. — 


54 


COME  :  COME  :  COME. 


Wlne'U  wing 
your  heart. 


Man, 


■top  strife, 
and  drink. 


though  *  you  were  a  winged  stare 
S6         &  fljeth  ^  fair  as  shineih  day ; 

yett  heeres  a  thing  your  hart  will  wing, 
&  make  you  sing  &c. 

You  that  are  the  god  of  warr, 
40        a  cruell  starr  paruerse  &  froward. 

Mars  !  prepare  thy  warlicke  speare, 
&  targett !  heers  a  combatt  towards ! 

*  then  fox  ^  me,  &  Be  fox  thee ; 
44        then  lets  agree,  &  end  this  fray, 

since  this  sweet  Ac. 


Yentu, 


yon  drink 
toot 


Venus  queene,  for  bewtye  seene, 

in  youth  soe  greene,  &  loued  soe  yonng, 
4S    thou  that  art  mine  owne  sweet  hart, 

shalt  haue  a  part  in  Cuppe  [&]  songe  * ; 
though  my  foot  be  wrong,  my  swords  full  long 
&  hart  full  strong;  cast  care  away, 
62     Since  this  sweet  Sac, 


Apollo, 


here's  vrine 
for  yon  I 
It  will  refine 
your  mtisic. 


Great  Appollo,  crowned  with  yellow,* 
Gynthius,  fellow  ^-muses  deere  ! 

heere  is  wine,  itt  must  be  thine, 
66        itt  will  refine  thy  Musicke  cleere ; 

to  the  wire  of  this  sweet  lire 
yoa  must  aapire  another  day, 

for  this  sweet  &o. 


Jono, 


60    luno  clere,  &  mother  dere, 

you  come  in  the  rere  of  a  bowsing  feast ; 


*  Altho*,  or  even  tho*,  op  perhaps 

What  tho*  you  are  a  winged  star 
And  fly  as  far. — P. 


and  flew  as,  as,  That  flyeth. — P. 
Do  thou  fox  me. — P. 
a  toping  Word. — P.     For,  to  make 
tipsy.  A  cant  term.  See  Hobson's  Jests, 


t 

3 
4 


1607,  repr.  p.  33.    HalliwelL— F. 

•  Cup  &  song. — ^P. 

•  aoath'dinyellow.— P. 

'  Cease  to  fouow,  or  Quit  thy  fellow, 
or  With  thy  fellow.— P.  Apollo  WM 
sumamed  Cyntkius^  and  Diana  OyniAia, 
as  they  were  bom  on  Mount  Cjnthus, 
which  was  sacred  to  them.  Lempriflfe. — ^F. 


coMK :  con  :  com. 

tbtu  I  mM>t,  your  ut»ue  Ui  trrcfit; 
tb0  gnp«  u  sweet  A  the  lut  is  beat. 
M    SOW  M  hU  jo«r  aagry  bikwlee '  i 

Ann  isMorteD  &  w»j^tje  smy ; 
tii  »  giMMB  Uiing  to  pleue  your  Kmjt, 
A  baara  70a  sing  Ac. 

«     AwWI  an.  A  king  of  fin  !  J 

la*  wine  w^mtb  to  tliy  mightjr  throne,  * 

A  IB  Uiis  qoin  of  tdIm*  derv  ' 

Ooasthoo,  AbsHvuiinorttjilldrame*;     fp»mim 

n    Ifar  fcry  endi^  A  gneo  d[«]«ni(U 

Willi  Sutpui  fcinil*  lo  ilwoll  fornje. 


vWs  loae  ■  dotti  sing  &o.  Ac. 

TvloHK,  IConras,  hannes,  Bsoohns, 

Mhb  *  TaBBS,  il  •ad  too^ 
PWfaw  hri^teat,  Iobo  rightaat, 

A  Aa  High^ast  of  the  crew, 
loM^  and  all  the  lifiiiiiis  gntt*  hall, 

keepe  fiBstiiul]  &  holy-da; ! 
BiDOe  this  sweete  spring  with  her  blscke  thing 

will  make  700  sing  (a  la  b  U. 


■  JoTi!.— P.   US.  lohoB,  with  polwpa 
the  t  tDuled  ont.-F. 

■  /nil  brrc  itnick  out— F. 


56 


C|)r  €ttnt  Unigbt/ 

[In  2  Pfcpts.— P.] 

This  is  a  late,  popular  version  of  the  old  romance  of  ^Sir 
Oawain  and  the  Green  Knight,"  preserved  amongst  the  Got- 
tonian  MSS.  (Nero  A.  X.  fol.  91)  edited  by  Sir  Frederick 
Madden  for  the  Bai^iatyne  Club  in  1839  and  by  Richard 
Morris  Esq.  for  the  Early  English  Text  Society  in  1864.*  The 
old  romance,  written,  according  to  Mr.  Morris,  about  1320  A.n., 
by  the  author  of  the  Early  English  Alliterative  Poems  also 
printed  by  the  E.  E.  Text  Society,  is  lengthy,  is  written  in 
alliterative  metre,  and  is  as  diflScult  as  the  old  alliterative  poems 
usually  are.  To  dissipate  this  besetting  obscurity,  to  relieve  this 
apparent  tediousuess,  the  present  translation  and  abridgement 
was  made.  The  form  is  changed ;  the  language  is  modernised. 
In  a  word,  the  old  romance  was  adapted  to  the  taste  and  under- 
standing of  the  translator's  time.  Moreover,  it  was  made  to 
explain  a  custom  of  that  time — a  custom  followed  by  an  Order 
that  was  instituted,  according  to  Selden  and  Camden,  some  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  (a.d.  1399)  after  the  time  when,  according 
to  Mr.  Morris,  the  poem  first  appeared.     It  explains  why 

Knights  of  the  bathe  weare  the  laoe 

UntiU  they  have  wonen  their  shoen, 
Or  else  a  ladye  of  hye  estate 
From  about  his  necke  shaU  it  take 

For  the  doughtye  deedi  hee  hath  done. 

On  this  point  Somebset  Herald  has  kindly  furnished  us  with 
the  following  note :  

>  A   curious  adventure  of   Sir  Ga-  tion  p.  29-31  [of  MS.;  pp.  70-3  of  teixt]. 

iraine,  explaining  a  custome  used  by  —P. 
the  Knights  of  the  Bath. — P.  '  In  his  edition  of  Syr  Gawaytu,  Sir 

N.B.  See  a  Fragment  p.  29  fof  MS. ;  F.  Madden  printed  the  present  poem  as 

▼ol.  i.  p.  70,  1.  213  of  text]  wherein  is  No.  III.  in  his  Appendix,  p.  224-848. 
mention  of  u  Green  Kii»^*t  &  decapita- 


t\AWgK.t  Arm*.  Jant  a. 

It  appeftn  to  Iutb  been  tlio  cuskim  of  Kuiglito  of  tho  natli,  fVoni  at 
ta^rt  aa  vmrij  M  liie  rwign  uf  Hunry  IV.,  to  vnmr  h  locn  ur  abuuldur 
kM-tt  of  while  lUk  un  Um  leil  shoulder  of  their  lUMitles  or  gowns, 
I  "  tlaria  xxxu  aw  kiii^lM  prrMnling  inimeduitrly  bL-fnre  tlui  king  bi 
thar*  Kijwnw,'  uii]  hindia,  oni]  tixikitw  of  whi)lc  silko  upon  thciro 
»  Mcttatnmid  aU  th«  Biith ; "  MS.  l-inp.  Kdvi.  IT., 
I  pvbttstifd  hy  llciamo  at  tho  tmd  of  Sprott's  Chrouicle, 
p.  «»).  Tlib  Ittoe  WM  to  hi:  worn  till  it  lOionlil  be  tnJcMi  nfl*  bjr  tho 
kaad  aTtfcc  fnnoo  or  of  aonip  nohlu  IjkIt,  apoii  thv  kni^i^ht'i  hnviug 
f  fill  I  in  d  "  aomo  tintve  muI  cuniiidcrublo  action,"  vido  Anstin'a 
HJaio«7  of  ibr  Ord^r.  What  thiu  custom  ori^^nated  in  dom  not 
■pTiir,  and  thn  wnl^r  of  tho  jioem  ha«  outy  (fXort-ii«d  ike  allowed  pri- 
vdagv  of  bia  cinift,  to  attribntinf^  tbudi-rivutiim  ti>  the  ulreiituro  of  Sir 
Qa«WB«  and  "  lh»  Ladj  gay"  in  this  lo^ndof  "The  Uni-n  Knij^bt." 

la  thu  SUtnlea  uf  the  Ordirr,  Itth  of  Qtvrge  I.  1725,  it  is  rotn- 
■■■dad  that  tbfj  ahall  near  on  the  tc-n  thouldor  of  their  miuitlo  "tbe 
la^  of  wkit»  nlk  anlivnllf  yrora  hy  the  Mid  knighta,"  but  ibcro  la 
■o  aMHwn  of  ila  bmng  taken  off  at  ony  time  for  any  retuton. 

J.  K.  Pl*ncu<. 

The  nctMt  belongi  then  (o  aa  age  which  vruN  Ijt^unint;.  tn 
L  M«dj  itwlf,  mad  to  eDquIre  into  lh«  ori^n  of  pra<.-tiwi«  which  it 
I  todr obwrting.   It  waa  infattt  anriquarinn  rfTurl.    But  the 
I  baa  lost  much  of  id*  vi^ftur  id  thv  translntion.     It  is  in  ita 
ebutaabadowof  ilM-IF.   Moreover,  thii  following  copy 
lb  mutilalcct     ScvituI  tialf-stmizBit  tuivc  droppod  out 
',  pntbMliI;  through  tbr  xhiHT  cnn'ltiwmwi  of  thv  Bcribe. 
■  two  Indhig  pcraumt  wf  the  roniELDci;  &tp  the  well-known 
t  Oawaia.  of  Kftty  Arthur's  court,  and  Sir  Krcdbuddlc  of  the 
txj — the  nme  knight  who  appears  in  King  Arthur 
'  ti#  Kiaij  of  ComMnill^  vol.  L  p.  67.     The  main  iutereet 

■  BiMo  Sir  Oawmto.     Hu  **  poiuts  tliree  " — his  boldnisia,  hia 
ij,  hta  hanliDeaa — ure  all  proved.     He  ii  vtger  for  adreo* 

■  I  br  wiahrinkinj(lT   purvuea  limn   to   tbe  end;  he   lieera 
e  kanbh'ipt  pstiendy ;  his  courtoay  u  «)>ciwu  in  hU  nobly 


< 


58 


THE  GRENE  KNIGHT. 


resisting  the  overtures  made  him  by  his  host's  wife,  whom  Agostes 
has  brought  to  his  bedside. 

The  ladye  kissed  him  times  three, 
Saith,  <*  Without  I  have  the  loTe  of  thee, 

My  life  staodeth  in  dere." 
Sir  Gk^waine  blushed  on  the  Lady  bright^ 
Saith,  "  Your  husband  is  a  gentle  Knight, 

By  Him  that  bought  mee  deare ! 
To  me  itt  were  great  shame. 
If  I  shold  doe  him  any  grame, 

That  hath  beene  kind  to  mee.** 

All  these  provings  are  given  much  more  fully  in  the  original 
romance.  But  enough  is  given  here  to  uphold  the  fame  of  the 
chivalrous  knight     See  the  Turk  and  Oowin. 


When 
Arthnr 
lived,  he 
rnledall 
Britaiii, 


List  !  wen  *  Arthur  he  was  Ktn^, 
he  had  all  att  his  leadioge 

the  broad  He  of  Brittaine ; 
England  &  Scottland  one  was, 
&  wales  stood  in  the  same  case, 

the  truth  itt  is  not  to  layne.* 


andliTed,for 
a  time,  in 
peace. 

To  stop  hia 
knights  con- 
tending for 
precedency, 


he  made  the 

Round 

Table, 

that  all 


he  drive  allyance  •  out  of  this  He, 
8    soe  Arthnr  lined  in  peace  a  while, 
as  men  ^  of  Mickle  maine, 
kn/^^ts  strong  of  *  their  degree 
[strove]  w^tch  of  them  hjest  shold  bee ; 
12         therof  Arthnr  was  not  fiedne  ; 

hce  made  the  round  table  for  their  behone, 
thai  none  of  them  shold  sitt  abone, 
but  all  shold  sitt  as  one,^ 


'  when. — P. 

•  without  layne,  i.e.  without  lying. — 
or  vnthoui  altering  the  line  (only  dele  it 
is)  it  is  "  Not  to  conceal  the  truth." — P. 
Old  Norse  leyna,  to  hide. — F. 

*  drave  aliens. — P. 


*  man. — ^P. 

»  Kn!»  strove  of  (about)  &C. — P. 

•  at  one. — P.    Compare  Arthur,  E.  E. 
Text  Soc.,  p.  2, 1.  48-63 : 

At  Cayrlyon«,  wytAoute  fable, 
he  let  make  [»e  Kounde  table : 


THB  OREKE   KNIOHT. 


59 


!•     the  Ktn^  bimBelfe  in  state  royall. 
Dame  Gnenener  our  qneene  wtthall, 
aeemlye  of  body  and  bone. 

itt  fell  againe  the  christmase, 
90    many  came  to  ihat  Lords  place, 
to  that  worthje  one 
With  hdme  on  ^  head,  &  brand  bright, 
all  that  tooke  order  of  knight ; 
14        none  wold  linger  att  home. 

there  was  noe  castle  nor  manour  free 
that  mi^t  harbonr  ihat  companje, 
their  poissance  was  soe  great. 
S8    their  tents  vp  ih6  pight  ^ 

for  to  lodge  there  all  ihat  night, 
therto  were  sett  to  meate. 


might  be 
oqaai. 


One  Christ- 

nuwinAny 
knighu 
cmme  to 
Aithnr's 
ooort. 


Kohonae 
ooaldhold 
aU  of  them. 


■o  thej 
pitched  thtir 
tente. 


Messengers  there  came  [&]  went ' 
91     with  much  victnalls  verament 
both  by  way  &  streete ; 

wine  &  wild  fowle  thither  was  bronght, 

Within  they  spared  nought 
3«         for  gold,  A  they  might  itt  gett. 

Now  of  King  Arthur  noe  more  I  mcll  *  ; 
but  of  a  ventorous  kn/<//<t  1  will  you  tell* 

thai  dwelled  in  the  west  countrjo^  ; 
40     S<r  Bredl)eddle,  for  sooth  he  hett  '; 
he  was  a  man  of  Mickele  might, 

&  Lorci  of  great  bewtye. 


aadtood 
WM  Mrred 
to  them. 


Bat  I  fthall 

le«Te 

Arthur, 

anil  tell  yun 

atvHit 

HIr  IlreJ. 

beddle. 


Aui  vliT  Mt  be  mak^^l  hjt  H». 

►*•  U'  mjka  •rhuHr  njrtt  atK/ne  o^r, 
St*  Lfto«r  ivtiigiuttrvAim  of  hrn  bru^r ; 
A»ri  alU  h»t^i^  rm*.  •'•ruyM*, 
\  M  &- »  I  *7  !•*  •rh*>M*'  •ryiie 
\  .t  »«i  •ifCTf*  of  ■Tttvnirc 


•  MS.  &._F. 

*  pitt^b'-d,  or  put.  -P. 

•  rtD«!  went,-   I*. 

*  null.  tntMlJK',  fr.  mclcr.     Urry. — I*. 
»   I  trll       I'. 

•  Stt'  linr  515.— K. 

*  highl,  wn«  mil*"*!. —  P.     Tht»  o.^riitr 
rumaocT  makr«  tbr  koight'f  uame  *'  Bern- 


60 


THE   GRENE   KNIGHT. 


He  loTcd  bis 
wtfe  douiy. 


bat  she 

loTedSir 

Gawaine. 


he  had  a  lady  to  his  '  wiffe, 
44     he  loned  her  deerlje  as  his  liffe, 
shee  was  both  bljth  and  blee  *  ; 
because  S/r  Grawaine  was  stiffe  in  stowre, 
shee  loaed  him  prinilje  paramour,' 
48         A*  shee  neaer  him  see. 


Her  mother 
Agoatca 
dealt  in 
witdiCTaft, 


itt  was  Agoetes  that  was  her  mother ; 
itt  was  witchcraft  &  noe  other 
thai  shee  dealt  with  all ; 


oonld  tnuw- 
form  men. 


andtold 
Brvdbeddle 
tOKOt  trans- 
formed. 


52     shee  cold  transpose  kiii'^Ats  &  swaine 
like  as  in  battaile  they  were  slaine, 

wounded  '  both  Lim  &  lightt,^ 
shee  taught  her  sonne  the  kni'^At  alsoe 
56     in  transposed  likenesse  he  shold  goe  ^ 
both  by  fell  and  frythe ; 


to  Arthur's 
court  to  see 
adTentores. 


ThiA  wa?  in 
order  to  get 

Gawaine 


shee  said,  "  thou  shalt  to  Arthurs  hall; 

for  there  great  aduentures  shall  befall 
60         That  euer  saw  King  or  'Kjiight" 

all  was  for  her  daughters  sake, 

that  which  she  ^  soe  sadlye  spake 
to  her  Sonne- in-law  the  Knight^ 
64     because  S/r  Grawaine  was  bold  and  hardye. 


[page  904] 


lak  de  Hautdesert'*  (p.  78,  1.  2445);  it 
does  not  make  his  wife  fall  in  luve  with 
Gawain,  but  Bernlak  sonds  her  to  tempt 
him  (p.  75,  1. 2362).  Gawain  comes  out 
of  the  tomptatioQ  as  one  of  the  most 
faultless  men  that  ever  walked  on  foot, 
and  as  much  above  other  knights  as  a 
pearl  is  above  white  pese  (1.  2364).  The 
enchantress  is  Morgiie  la  Faye^  Arthur  s 
half-sister  and  Gawaine's  aunt ;  and  she 
sends  Bernlak  to  Arthur  s  court  in  the 
hope  that  bis  talking  with  his  head  in 
hand  would  bereave  all  Arthur's  knights 
of  their  wits,  and  grieve  Guinevere,  and 
make  her  die  (p.  78, 1.  2460).  The  de- 
scription of  Morgne  la  Faje  (p.  30-1)  is 


very  good,  with  her  rough  yellow  wrinkled 
cheeks,  her  covered  neck,  her  black  chin 
muffled  up  with  white  vails,  her  fore- 
head enfolded  in  silk,  showing  only  her 
black  brows,  eves,  nose,  and  hps  **  sowe 
to  se  and  selJylv  blered." — F. 

»  MS.  wis.— F. 

'  so  bright  of  blee,  htee  is  colour, 
complexion,  bleo  S.  Color.    Uny. — P. 

•  1  wf  read  par  amour. — ^P. 

•  and  yet. — P. 

•  and  wound. — P. 

'  ly  the,  a  joint,  a  limb,  a  nerve, 
li5,  artus.     Uny. — P. 
»  to  go.— P. 

•  MS.  thaX  theye  wAich.— F. 


THS  aftKMK  KNIGHT. 


61 


A  therto  fiill  of  cnrtesje,' 
to  bring  liim  into  her  sight. 


bfOUKlit  to 
herdMifli* 


the  knight  Mud  ^  loe  mote  I  thee, 
to  Arthnn  oonrt  will  I  mee  hye 

fer  to  pnuae  thee  right, 
A  to  prone  Omwnines  points  3 ; 
A  thai  be  true  ikat  men  tell  me, 

bj  Marj  Most  of  Might." 


BndlMddto 
to  go. 


GowaliMta 
■ogood. 


earije,  soone  as  itt  was  day, 
the  Knight  dressed  him  fnU  gaj, 

vmstrode  '  a  foil  good  steede ; 
helme  and  hawberfce  both  he  hent, 
a  long  &nchion  rerament 

to  fend  them  in  his  neede. 


BndlMddlo 


«4 


ikat  *  was  a  lolly  sight  to  seene, 

when  horsse  and  armour  was  all  greene, 

A  weapon  that  hee  bare, 
when  thai  bnme  was  baminht  still, 
hill  roantcoance  be  became  right  well, 

I  dare  itt  safelyc  swcarc. 


H«wwa 
■oodly  ilglitt 
in  hit 


on  hit  gi'nu 
hoi 


Ih^t  time  att  Carleile  lay  our  Ki'ny ; 
alt  a  Castle  of  flatting  was  his  dwelling, 
in  the  iTorrest  of  delomoro.^ 
M     for  lootb  he  *  rode,  the  sooth  to  say, 
to  Carleile  *  he  came  on  Christmas  dav, 
into  thai  fayre  coantr^'e.^ 


Arthnr  It  mt 

Ctrllal*. 

•tCtttio 

FUttinff. 

In~ 


Bndbfddlo 
arrlTaiaQ 


day. 


M  fya*  fadrT  of  owtnrv*  **  th*"  old 
•-4uani>  milt  htm.  ti.  39.  1.  919.-  F. 

'   uvl  tU«^«.  I  ^   li»*troiir.~P.     Mm  a 
f»ftmi      i^*m  thff  #lAl«rmtr  drtrnpcioo  ol 
'*•  LME^f.  hf  armoor  nnd  bone,  in  the 
i,id  ramMmcm,  p.  ^«.  L  lM-203.— F. 


»  Yt,  i.i*.  i/.~P. 

•  D^Umriv.— P.     In  Chethiiv.  -H. 

•  for  N>e  hn^.  -  P. 

•  CnniTkft,  in  the*  old  roauuH*e. — F. 
'  citontry*'  faire. — P. 


62 


THE   GUENE   KNIGHT. 


The  porter 
anks 

him  where 
he's  going  to. 


"To  see 
King  Arthur 
and  his 
lorda." 


The  porter 


iells  Arthur 


when  be  into  that  place  came,' 

92     the  porter  thonght  him  a  Mamelons  groome 
he  saith,  "  S/r,  wither  wold  yee  ?  " 
hee  said,  **  I  am  a  venteroos  Knt^^ii^ 
&  of  jour  King  wold  hane  sight, 

96        &  other  Lords  that  heere  bee." 

noe  word  to  him  the  porter  spake, 
but  left  him  standing  att  the  gate, 

&  went  forth,  as  I  weene, 
100     &  kneeled  downe  before  the  King ; 
saith,  "  in  lifes  dajes  old  or  younge, 

snob  a  sight  I  hane  not  scene  ! 


of  the  Green 

Knight's 

arrival, 


and  the 
king 

orders  him 
to  be  let  in. 


**  for  yonder  att  jour  gates  right ;  " 
104     he  saith,  *'  hee  is  ^  a  yenterons  Knight ; 
all  his  vesture  is  greene." 
then  spake  the  King  proudest  in  all,' 
saith,  "  bring  him  into  the  hall ; 
108        let  YS  see  what  hee  doth  meane." 


Bredboddle 
comes, 


wishes 
Ajrthur  Qod 
speed, 


112 


when  the  greene  K^dght  came  before  the  King^ 
he  stood  in  his  stirrops  strechinge, 

&  spoke  with  voice  cleere, 
&  saith,  "  Kvng  Arthur,  god  sane  thee 
as  thou  sittest  in  thy  prosperitye, 

&  Maintaine  thine  honor  * ! 


and  says  he 
has  come 


to  challenge 
hid  lords  to 
a  trial  of 
manhood. 


"  why  *  thou  wold  me  nothing  but  right ; 

116     I  am  come  hither  a  venterous  [Knight,*] 
&  kayred  ^  thorrow  cbuntrye  farr,® 
to  proue  poynts  in  thy  pallace 
tJiat  longeth  to  manhood  in  euerye  case 

120         among  thy  Lorcte  deere." 


'  come  or  was  come. — P. 

*  tliere  is. — P. 

'  first  OP  foremost  of  all. — P. 

*  honnere. — P. 

*  for  why,  because. — F. 


•  Knigbt.--P. 

'  hare  gone ;  A.-S.  chran,  eirran,  to 
turn,  pass  over  op  by. — ^F. 

*  furre,  op  pephaps  fiure. — ^P. 


THE  GRENE   KNIGHT. 


63 


124 


the  Ktfi^,  he  sajd  ^  fnll  still  ^ 
till  he  had  eaid  all  his  will ; 

certein  thus  can  '  he  sa j : 
"  as  I  am  trae  Isinight  and  King^ 
thou  shalt  hane  thj  askinge  ! 

I  will  not  say  thy  nay,* 


Arthnr 


oonaents  to 
l^him  try 


"  whether  thon  wilt  •  on  foote  fighting, 

128    or  on  steed  backe  ^  lasting 
for  lone  of  Ladyes  gay. 
If  &  thine  armor  be  not  fine, 
I  will  giue  thee  part  of  mine." 

132         ''  god  amercy,  hord !  "  can  he  say, 

'*  here  I  make  a  challenging 

among  the  Lords  both  old  and  yonnge 

that  worthy  beene  in  weede, 
136     wAtch  of  them  will  take  in  hand  ^ — 
hee  thai  is  both  stiffe  and  stronge 

and  full  good  att  need — 


on  foot, 

or  horso- 
tMdc 


Bradbeddle 
cballengn 
Arthur's 
lords: 


he'U  let  ftny 
ono 


i( 


I  shall  lay  my  head  downe, 
140     strike  itt  of  if  he  can  * 

w/th  a  stroke  to  garr  ®  itt  bleed, 
for  this  day  12  monthe  another  at  his  : 
let  mo  see  who  will  answer  this, 
144         a  knight  *®  that  is  donghtye  of  deed; 


"  for  this  day  12  month,  the  sooth  to  say, 
let  him  come  to  me  &  seicth  his  praye  ; 
mdlye,'*  or  euer  hee  blin,*^ 


Cl»ee206]    cnt  his  head 
off, 


for  a  retam 
cnt  at  his 
executioner's 
head  a  year 
hence 


'   satt.— P. 

'  quietly. — P. 

'  c<Tt^s  then  'gan. — P. 

*  say  thee  nay. — P.  )^  is  the  abla- 
tive of  the  A.-Sax.  demonstrative  pro- 
noun, «r,  seo^  \net. — F. 

*  wilt  be. — ^P.  wilt  —  wishest,  pre- 
fere«t. — H. 


*  on  steed-back,  i.e.   on  horse-back. 
—P. 

^  bond.— P. 
«  con.— P. 

•  gar,  cause. — F. 

"  perhaps  To  a  k*.  —P. 

"  redly e,  i.e.  readily.     Vid.  G.D.— P. 

"  biin,  linger,  delay. — P. 


64 


THI2   GKENE   KXIGHT. 


at  the 

Greene 

Chappell. 


148     whither  to  come,  I  shall  him  tell, 

the  readie  waj  to  the  greene  chappell, 
that  place  I  will  be  in." 


Kay 


the  Kin^  att  ease  sate  ftdl  still, 

152     &  all  his  lords  said  but  litle  ^ 
till  he  had  said  all  his  will, 
vpp  stood  Sir  Kay  that  crabbed  hnight^ 
spake  mightye  words  thut  were  of  height, 

156         that  were  both  Loud  and  shrill ; 


accepts  the 
challenge. 


The  other 
knightfl  tell 
Kay  to  be 
qnlet : 
he's  always 
getting  into 
a  meflR. 


160 


'^  I  shall  strike  his  necke  in  tooo, 
the  head  away  the  body  froe." 

the  bade  him  all  be  still, 
saith,^  "  Kay,  of  thy  dints  make  noe  rouse,* 
thou  wottest  fall  litle  what  *  thou  does  ^  ; 

noe  good,  but  Mickle  ill." 


Sir  Gawaine       1 64 


says  it  will 

be  too  bad  if 

Arthur 

doesn't  let 

him  take  the         168 

adventure. 


Eche  man  wold  this  deed  haue  done, 
vp  start  Str  Gawaine  soone, 

ypon  his  knees  can  kneele, 
he  stod,  "  that  were  great  villanye 
without  you  put  this  deede  to  me, 

my  leege,  as  I  haue  sayd ; 


Arthur 
consents, 


but  not  till 
after  dinner. 


172 


"  remember,  I  am  your  sisters  sonne." 
the  K-mg  said,  "  I  grant  thy  boone  ; 

but  mirth  is  best  att  meele ; 
cheero  thy  guest,  and  giue  him  wine, 
&  afler  dinner,  to  itt  fine, 

<fc  sett  the  buffett  well !  " 


'  littol— P. 

'  i.  e.  they  say. — P. 

'  praise,  extolling,  boast. — Jon.  per- 


haps roust,  noise.    G.  Dong. — P. 
*  that— P. 
»  doest.— P. 


65 


17C 


im 


•bo  ^[ivcno 


in  hm 


iMsdetlie 
to  talks  of  kis 
fikaaKM^M 

wiUi  kagtbiie 


vclfittmy  Dotlmig  be 

flUDseoe  bo  foodOk 


wboB  tlio  diBDor,  it 

Iho  Km^  ooid  to  8cr  Gswmine 

wfthoaten  anj  fidilo 
be  OMd,  ''on*  JOQ  will  doe  tbis  deodop 
I  pimj  lesBO  bo  jour  ^wede  ! 

tbk  k»^it  is  Dotbiiig  Tnotable.'* 


tbo  grooBO  Kmifki  bk  bead  downe  lajd ; 

ifO    Scr  GmnuBo,  to  tbo  axe  be  bnid  ^ 
to  otiiko  w«lb  eger  will; 
be  stroke  tbo  nedce  bono  in  twmine, 
tbo  bkiod  burst  ont  in  euerje  TsinOi 

Its        tbo  bond  from  tbo  bodj  felL 


IM 


tbe  greene  Knight  his  head  rp  hent,^ 
into  his  saddle  wighdlje  *  he  sprent, 

spake  wonb  both  Lowd  A  ahriU, 
saitb  :  **  Gawaine  !  thinke  on  th j  couenant ! 
this  daj  12  monthes  see  thou  ne  want 

to  come  to  the  greene  chappell !  *' 


piduit  op, 
inaapa  iato 


0«wsiat  10 


tW«iT« 


I 


Ofw*, 


JL*    mtm/f€,  with  a  boruooUl  line 
two    ▼vftjral    iCn«k<«   urrr  the  n, 
A    eoflftractkm,    and    tbofriog 
t    U>  hftve    rrmd  at    m  the 
•  ta  thir  bf*difif  oC  **  I^^  and 
rU.  t.  p.  141.      rbe  title  wottki 
ourrrvpoodrd  with  tba  t«at ; 
kartaf  aotievd  the  eootTBCtioo 
I  h>artai>d  to  alter  tike  MB.~F. 


«  an.- P. 

*  8e«  Herbert  Colcridgr'i  G^oMtfry  oo 
thin  vord.  Old  Norse  brtgt^.  Heabatnicta 
from  KgilauD.  As  a  neuter  rerb  it  i» 
Oftrd  ^  of  anr  riolent  mutioo  of  bodj, 
a«  to  leap." — F. 

*  took. — P.  Tbe  old  rooaoce  maket 
•ome  of  the  knigbu  kick  the  head  with 
their  feel,  1.  428.— F. 

*  actirelj. — P. 


voc  n. 


66 


THE  GBENS  KHIGHT. 


ridMoff, 


patohte 
Mid  on 
agidn, 

MidpronitMi 
GAwaina 
Abettor 
boflet* 


All  had  great  mamell,  thai  th£  see 

800    that  he  spake  bo  merrilje 

&  hare  his  head  in  his  hand, 
forth  att  the  hall  dore  he  rode  rights 
and  that  saw  both  Kui^  and  knight 

S04        and  Lords  that  were  in  land« 

without  the  hall  dare,  the  sooth  to  saine, 
hee  sett  his  head  rpon  againe,^ 

saies,  *'  Arthnr,  hane  heere  mj  hand ! 
808    when-soener  the  Knight  cometii  to  mee, 
a  better  bnffett  sickerlje 

I  dare  him  well  warrand." 


Aitbnrit 

TWy  •ORT 

forOftwaiM, 


■oit  Lance- 
lot. 


Oftwaine 
oheeri  then 
np, 


that 


the  greene  Knight  awaj  went. 

818    all  this  was  done  by  enchantment 
that  the  old  witch  had  wrought, 
sore  sicke  fell  Arthnr  the  King^ 
and  for  him  made  great  mooming 

816        that  into  such  bale  was  brought. 

the  QueeUj  shee  weeped  for  his  sake ; 
sorrj  was  Str  Lancelott  dnlake, 

&  other  were  dreeiy  in  thought 
880    because  he  was  brought  into  great  perill ; 
his  mightye  manhood  will  not  ayaile, 

that  before  hath  freshlje  fought. 

Sir  Gkkwaine  comfort  King  and  Q^een^ 
834     &  all  the  dought je  there  be-deene  ' ; 
he  bade  th^  shold  be  still; 
said,  *'  of  my  deede  I  was  neaer  feard,' 
nor  yett  I  am  nothing  a-dread, 
888         I  swere  by  Saint  Michaell ; 


[page  10 


1  The  old  romance  makes  the  head 
open  ita  eyelids  and  speak  while  it's  on 
the  knight's  hand,  1.  446.— F. 


F. 


'  immediately.— P.   or  all  tcgaCher.- 
•  fraid.— P. 


TBE  OKBHI  KMIOHT. 


"tar  wben  disweth  towud  laj  dttj, 
I  win  droaw  me  hi  mine  arraj 


Sir,"  Iw  nith,  **  ■■  I  baoe  blu, 
I  mtt not  iriMre  tha  gnene  du^tpell  ia,  ■J"*' 

dHribraMkBJttlinll."  ««a 

the  rajaD  Cooott '  renment  ni«ott% 

■n  nnglit  *  Sof  OftwaiiiM  intent,  '*'*""* 

dwT  tlioaglit  ttt  wns  tba  be*t 
A17  mnt  forth  into  the  feild,  MtgolMh 

kw*y>ti  (Aat  win  both  ipenn  >nd  iheeld 

th<  pnced  ■  forth  foil  praet  * ; 

BOOM  ohaM  them  to  Instingt^  tejoMt, 

MMM  to  daooe,  BewU,  ud  nng ;  n^, 

of  mirth  tii4  wold  not  rest.  ,^       , 

•n  the)r  nrore  together  in  fore,  ^^ 

it«t  and  BJr  Oawaine  oner^oome  mre^  qiSiIIh  u 

tb<  wold  bm  nO  the  weet.  w.utw. 

Few  Iteae  wee  the  Km;  in  his  peOaoe. 

the  greene  Kjtigkl  come  home  ia  K^Mdia 

to  hia  owne  Caatle ;  tHm*, 

this  feDce  frend  *  when  he  came  home 
what  dongbtje  deeds  he  had  done. 

nothing  be  wold  them  tell ;  *|^  >■  *»• 

faD  well  hce  wist  in  certaine  ,^  ^^^, 

(Aat  hia  wiffe  loned  Sir  Oawaino  Kl'^'^ 

tMat  comelje  was  vnder  kell.'  o«w»i». 

Uatoi,  hanU  '  !  k  jee  will  sitt, 
A  jrn  shall  heere  the  second  ffitt, 

what  adrentnres  Sir  Oawaine  befell. 


A  chikl'*  cmni,  uij  lliin  t^u,^mt.^. 
"  Rim  or  htl  wbtnia  the  bowela  ar« 
Upt.'    Floho.  p.  MO.     Sir  John  "  tub 

SUU"  IdFOuwvnd  bm)  HS.  Caolkb. 
T.  48.  h.  Ill,  HallivaU'iOloB.— F. 
'  LonlingB.— F. 


li^  Tax  9as5m  csibee 


Yba  hkT  i»  come  tins  GawuM  mnsi  gone ; 


™*  £tiU  ^l4«r/fG§  4  LftlrCB 


r 


aou 


rY4£C  wore  wifciioas  in  tkat  pbcc; 
^    ^te  K;A>/  fifnmetfe  skcd  10, 


2i»     zhaej  ^rr:fLAi  Sit  Gawvxw  a  steed, 
c»r-^~  w:k»  iarcie  £79^7  9Bd  good  akt  need,^ 

I  %Z  w^.'shounn  scmie ; 


\»  )nz:«  kis  brikBe  was  w<kh  stones  sett, 

srs    vrTdi  so£d  Jt  (warle  on«rfrelt» 
<jt  steoes  c^  sreat  Tertne ; 
be  wa«  oJf  a  fixrieT*  kmd ; 
u»«ezrrx;»  Itis  sdnvpps  wereof  silke  of  jnd; 

2r<        I  tell  Toa  this  tale  for  true. 

when  he  T\7de  ouer  the  Mold^ 
hfftitttmi  his  geere  glistered  as  gokL 

by  the  war  as  he  rode, 
iSO   many  fiirlcTS  '  he  there  did  see, 
fowles  by  the  water  did  flee, 
by  brimes  d  bankes  8oe  broad. 


'  GijDgolet  is  the  steed's  name  in  the  here. — F. 

old  romance,  but  his  colour  is  not  giren.  *  ffriity    wonder,     wooderAil ;     Sax. 

All  the  jolly  bits  about  his  trappings,  feriie,    repentinos,    hoirendna,  OL   ad 

and  Gawaine's  armour,  with  its  pentangel  6  J). — P. 

devised    by    Solomon,    and    called    in  '  ?  >[S.  furfegs,  for  ferlies,  wondfln. 

English  **  the  endeles  knot,"  are  omitted  — F. 


THB   OBENB   KNtOIfT.  69 

manjr  forlry*  there  mw  hoe  QonlMHM 

»4    uf  woloea  A  will)  Ixiutta  ukcrlye  ;  bMato; 

OB  knti^  bee  toolu  nuwt  hssds, 

fe*A  lis  roda,  the  Kwtli  to  ten, 

ftr  to  Maka  flu  gieeno  ohiqtpen, 
SM       hawktiKitiAeraiindeed. 

As  ha  nida  in  an  aoa^njin^  late,  trit*  w] 

lidtBg  downa  ft  greene  gmto,* 

ft  bin  caatoD  aaw  bee,*  dftMivk 

SM  OataaHBadftpIaoeofKioUopFida;  "^ 

tUtfaarwaid  Bv  Gftwaine  can  Tjda  utata 

to  gatt  Mna  hailKBTOwa.* 

tlntlMr  ba  eama  in  ttw  twjlight, 

MS  bawaawaraofftgaBtla^M^U, 

tha  LonI  of  tba  plaoa  wftB  baa. 

Miifcly  to  bim  Sit  Ga waina  oaa  apeaka,  m  ■*§  ta 

A  aifead  Ub,  "fiir  Kmf  Artbnra  Mice, 
m       ti  barborrawa  I  praj  tbee  t  Mgag 

**  I  aoa  a  &r  Labordd  Eoigfat, 

I  prajr  jon  lodge  me  all  this  night"  tetbiBifht. 

be  aajd  him  not  nay, 
aa«    bee  tooke  him  br  the  ume  &  led  him  to  the  hall.        t^  lori 
m  poore  child*  can  hee  call, 

with,  "  dight  well  this  pal^." 

into  a  chamber  tb^  went  a  Irill  great  speed ; 
aaa   tbat«  tU  fbaad  all  things  readme  att  need, 
I  dare  aalelTe  awere ; 

■  tW  A  >■  m»it  onr  u  «r  ia  (h*  MS.  *  harimrm  at  haritrt.  Lodging.  Unj. 

■  pa««qr,  U. OaU, t^ OL  td O.D.  '  "atnimf,'wmnltam,"tlahtlei 
-f,                                                        hi*  rttdt,  *ur  m«a  in-uqa."    Old  Boai. 

*  hn  BiV.  m  mm  bt  thwai— P.  which    hu  ■    Bn*   dMchptiga  of    the 

cutis  sad  raoB,  Uc—t. 


70 


to 


The  lordTt 
vHe 


■opt  vith 


Tbelord 
aakiG*- 
WAine 


vhatbehM 
oome  there 
for. 


He  will  keep 
hlaooaneel. 


Oawaine 
telU  him  all, 
not  knowing 
he  WMin 


fier  in  chambers  bonuiig  briglit, 
candles  in  cbandlerB  ^  baming  liglit ; 
312        to  sapper  the  went  full  jaxe.' 

he  sent  after  his  Lmdje  bright 

to  come  to  supp  with  thai  gentle  ^Knight, 

&  shee  came  bljthe  wi' th-aD ; 
316   forth  shee  came  then  anon, 

her  Maids  following  her  eche  one 

in  robes  of  rich  palL' 

as  shee  sate  att  her  sapper, 
320   eaer-more  the  Ladje  dere 

Sir  Gawaine  shee  looked  ypon. 
when  the  sapper  it  was  done, 
shee  tooke  her  Maids,  &  to  her  chamber  gone.^ 

324   he  cheered  the  Knight  &  gaae  him  wine, 
&  said,  "  welcome,  by  St.  Martine ! 
I  pray  yon  take  itt  for  none  ill ; 
328    one  thing,  Sir,  I  wold  yon  pray ; 
what  yon  make  soe  &rr  this  way  ? 
the  trath  yon  wold  me  tell ; 

"  I  am  a  Kfiightj  &  soe  are  yee ; 
332   Your  concell,  an  yoa  will  tell  mee, 
forsooth  keepe  itt  I  will ; 

for  if  itt  be  poynt  of  any  dread, 

perchance  I  may  helpe  att  need 
336       either  lowd  or  still." 

for  '  his  words  that  were  soe  smooth, 
had  Sir  Gkkwaine  wist  the  soothe, 
all  he  wold  not  hane  told, 


•  Candlesticlu. — P. 

•  Yare,  acutus,  ready,  eager,  nimble. 
—P. 

•  any  rich  or  fine  Cloth,  but  properly 
purple:  taken  from  the  Kobe  worn  by 
BishopB. — P.    See  the  description  of  the 


Ladye  in  the  old  romAaoe,  with  "Hir 
brest  &  hir  br^  ^rote  baro  displayed," 
(p.  30-1).— F. 

*  Next  line  wanting  in  the  MS. — F. 

*  for  alL— P.    The  old  romance  keape 
the  secret  till  the  end, — F. 


THl   GBEMX  UIQHT. 


71 


Cor  ikai  was  the  greene  Knight 
thai  bee  mm  lodged  with  that  night, 
4  hftrfaftrrowes  >  in  his  hold* 


BndlMdd]*'* 


he  Mttth,  '^  M  to  the  greene  chappell, 

544  thitherwftrd  I  can  jon  tell, 

itt  ifl  bat  furlongs  8. 
t2ie  Matter  of  it  is  a  yenteroos  Ejii^^t, 
4  workes  bj  witchcraft  day  &  night, 

545  with  manj  a  great  fnrley.* 


BndtediUt 

directo 

Gttwmineto 

tlMOraen 

Chapel, 


wHehonft), 


worke  with  neo^  soe  much  franco,* 
he  iscarteoiis  as  he  seescaose. 
I  teO  jon  sikerl  je, 
ass  jOQ  shall  abyde,  &  take  yovr  rest, 
4  I  will  into  yonder  fforrest 
Tnder  t2ie  greenwood  tree.' 


ft 


thej  plight  Uieir  tmthes  ^  to  beleene,* 
SM   either  with  other  for  to  deale, 

whether  it  were  siloer  or  gold ; 
he  mid,  "  we  2  both  [sworn*]  wilbe, 
what  soeo^r  god  sends  jon  A  mee, 
to  be  parted  on  the  Mold.*' 

The  greene  Knight  went  on  hunting  ^  ; 
Sir  Gawaine  in  the  castle  beinge, 
laj  sleeping  in  his  bed. 


but 
himtoitej 


Thcjagi 
totuurt 


•ItharBMqr 


>  iMirbfrov'd.  lodsed.— P. 

•  womUr.—K 

*  t^r^mfm  frmU — to  nuJie  a  Dotie, 
oMk     G  ad  OD.— P. 

•  tPOtlM  — P. 

*  U  UtI-  P.  8««  Lm>U  I  478.  But 
if  t^  text  w  risbt,  m^  Wed^prood  on  he- 
Jmv  la  has  Bmjfiuk  KXfwt^io^.  "The 
frnt^mamt/ud  atjutm  ■<!■«■  to  be,  to  ap- 
M«r«,  tfO  MiKtioa  aa  afTaogeinrnt,  to 
Smmb   aa   nkit^   in   aerof^UDra  with  a 


•  ?  S«e  1.  481,  "WM  were  fto^A." 
The  old  romance  aeta  out  the  agreement 
at  length,  1.  1 106-9  :  What  the  Green 
Knight  wins  hunting  in  the  wood,  Ga- 
waine ia  to  haTe ;  what  Gawaine  geta  at 
home,  the  Green  Knight  ia  to  have — 
"  Sweet,  awap  we  ao,  swear  with  truth, 
whether,  man,  losa  befall,  or  better." — F. 

'  The  spirited  accuunta  in  the  old 
romance  of  thethree-daja'  hunt  of  the  deer, 
wild  boar,  and  fui,  are  all  left  out  here. 
All  the  go  ia  taken  out  of  tha  poem.— F. 


72 


THE   GREKE  KNIQHT. 


Bredbeddle*i 
witch 
mother*4ii* 
Uw 


364    Yprose  the  old  witche  with  hast  throwe,^ 
&  to  her  dauhter  can  shee  goe, 
&  said,  '^  be  not  adread !  " 


[I»8e906] 


tells  hli  wife 


thatGa- 
waiBe 
lain  the 
OMtle, 
and  takes 
her  to  him. 


to  her  danghter  can  shee  sa^, 

368    "  the  man  that  thon  hast  wisht  many  a  day, 
of  him  thon  maist  be  sped ; 
for  Sir  Gawaine  that  corteoos  Knight 
is  lodged  in  this  hall  all  night." 

372       shee  bronghther  to  his  bedd. 


and  telle 
him  to 
embraoeher. 


shee  saithy  "  gentle  Knt^^t,  awake ! 
&  for  this  faire  Ladies  sake 

that  hath  loued  thee  soe  deere, 
376    take  her  boldly  in  thine  armes, 

there  is  noe  man  shall  doe  thee  harme ; '' 

now  beene  thej  both  heere. 


The  wife 

kifleeehlm 

thrioe, 

andaakflhift 

lore. 

(Gawaine 


the  ladye  kissed  him  times  3, 
360    saith,  "  withont  I  have  the  lone  of  thee, 
mj  life  standeth  in  dere.^  " 
Sir  Gawaine  blnshed  on  the  Lady  bright^ 
saith,  "  your  husband  is  a  gentle  Knight^ 
364       by  him  tJiat  bought  mee  deare ! 


refosesto 
ahamehia 
host. 


"  to  me  itt  were  great  shame 
if  I  shold  doe  him  any  grame,' 

that  hath  beene  kind  to  mee ; 
388   for  I  haue  such  a  deede  to  doe, 
that  I  can  neyther  rest  nor  roe,* 

att  an  end  till  itt  bee." 


'  tho,  then. — P.  Sc.  thro,  thra,  eager, 
emest,  Isl.  thrd,  pertinax.  JamieBon.  The 
old  romance  makes  the  Green  Knight's 
wife  go  to  Gawaine  of  herself,  and  on 
three  successive  nighta. — F. 


•  Ikre,  IsBdere,  nooere.    Lye. — ^P. 

■  Grame — Chaac! .  Grief,  sorrow,  Taxa- 
tion, anger,  madness,  trouble,  afflictioD. 
S.  D,  am  [or  Gramj]  furor.    Uny.— P. 

^  A.-SajL.  raw,  quiet,  repose.— r. 


TU  GSBXE  UUSBT.  73 

thai  wfkt  tkal  Lkdje  gay,  n»  wii> 

IM    nctli,  "toll  tdv  Mine' of  j-owloiinu^, 
jowr  ancoonr  I  maj  be«! ; 

if  ilt )«  |ioyut  of  aiiy  wnrr,  «■«(  ^ 

tlMfv  dMn  Boa  nuD  doe  joa  1100  d«rr  ■  jSj^Mi 

IM       4  yae  wabe  gwwmad  by  mee ;  ■*»««»■ 

"fiirlwenlbsnealaoeof  tilkc^  i^wtn 

it  ■  ■■  wnto  ■•  SBf  milke,  mkitet 

4afa  great  Talna." 

«M  riMaMHh,*'Iilar»nfel7annare  imwOI 

Am*  afaall  noe  mas  doe  yon  dean*  d"ii*'* 

nAaa  yoa  haiia  it  *  vpon  yon." 

Sir  Gamma  apaka  mOdlje  in  the  place,  nii^w 

4M  ha  tfaaabd  tiie  Udy  4  to(^  the  lac^  t£"^ 
4  praaaiaad  har  to  oiMne  againa. 

the  Xmgkt  in  the  ffranat  alew  many  a  hind,  niiniii. 

other  Taaiaun  ha  oold  none  find  kMitw, 
4N       bat  wild  borea  on  the  pUina. 

pbn^  of  doea  4  wild  nrine, 
fbzea  4  other  ravine, 

aa  I  hard  true  men  tell. 
4 1 1    Sir  Oawsine  swore  nckerlye 

"  home*  to  yoNr  owns,  welcome  yon  bee,  k  wJioart 

by  him  that  harrowea  hell !  "  o*niB^ 

the  gnene  Knight  hit  Tenison  downe  Layd ;  hiauw 
4I«    then  to  Str  Oawaine  thna  hee  Mid,  wM  a*- 

"  tell  ma  anon  in  heght,* 

what  aooal^ee  f  Aat  yon  bane  won, 

fer  hoara  pten^  of  Tenlaon." 
4M       Sir  Oawaine  nid  full  right, 

■  A..&  4Ur,  uiwy.  hart— p. 


74 


THE   GRENE  KNIGHT. 


•ndGa- 
waine  gives 
him  his 
three  UsMS, 


Sir  Gawaine  sware  bj  S*.  Leonard,^ 
"  such  as  god  sends,  jou  shall  haae  paH : 
in  his  armes  he  hent  the  Knight, 
424   &  there  he  kissed  him  times  8, 

saith,  **  heere  is  such  as  god  sends  mee, 
by  Maiy  most  of  Might." 


>i 


bnt  keeps 
back  the 
l«oe. 


NeztdAy 


euer  prioilje  he  held  the  Lace : 
428  that  was  all  the  villanye  that  ener  was 
prooned  bj  '  Str  Gawaine  the  gaj. 

then  to  bed  soone  th^  went, 

&  sleeped  there  verament 
432        till  morrow  itt  was  day. 


Oftwaine 
takes  leave. 


and  rides 
towards  the 
chapel. 


then  Str  Gawaine  soe  cnrteons  &  free, 
his  leane  soone  taketh  hee 

att '  the  Lady  soe  gaye ; 
436  Hee  thanked  her,  &  tooke  the  lace, 
&  rode  towards  the  ehappell  apace ; 

he  knew  noe  whitt  the  way. 


[page  809] 


Bredbeddle 
rides  there 
too. 


ener  more  in  his  thought  he  had 
440  whether  he  shold  worke  as  the  Ladye  bade, 
that  was  soe  cnrteons  &  sheene. 

the  grecne  "knight  rode  another  way ; 

he  transposed  him  in  another  array, 
444        before  as  it  was  greene. 


Gawaine 
hears  a  horn, 


as  Sir  Ghiwaine  rode  oner  the  plaine, 
he  hard  one  high  ^  ypon  a  Monntaine 
a  home  blowne  full  lowde. 


>  NoTember  6. — S.  Leonard  or  Lionart 
may  be  termed  the  Howard  of  the  sixth 
century.  He  was . .  probably  received  into 
the  Church  at  the  same  time  as  his  royal 
master,  CloTis,  with  whom  he  was  in 
high  favour,  and  who  gave  him  permission 
to  set  many  of  the  prisoners  at  liberty 


who  were  confined  in  the  dnngeoni  whidi 
his  charity  prompted  him  to  Ticit.  AMr« 
on  the  Montki,  p.  841. 

*  on.7-P.    iu-Saz.  be,bi,ct,  eooeen- 
ing. — F. 

*  of.—P.    AU  is  light— F. 

*  on  high. — ^P. 


THB  01B9B  KNIGHT.  75 

«48  1m  lookad  ftfter  tlw  greene  chappell,  MdMttiM 

1m  mm  itt  ttend  mder  a  hiU  Cka^^ 

eooared  with  mtjm  *  abcmt; 

1m  lookad  ftfter  tlw  greene  EiM^Jkiy  MidtiM 

«sa  1m  hard  him  weliett  a  fikuohion  brig^ti  Ught; 
thai  tlw  hflls  rang  about, 

iiie  Kaft^U  ipaka  with  strong  cheere,  vteoOi 

nid,  *«  jae  be  wdoome,  8[ir]  Oawaine  heere,  SH^^biT 

«M        it  bohooToUi  thae  to  Lowta/' <  ^'^ 

ha  ftnika^  A  Htla  pereed  the  akiii,  tkoidrikM, 

TBBatfi  the  ileeh  wMim*  b^hmdij 

Umb  Sfr  Oawaine  had  noe  doabt  |  tiM  ank. 

4m  heMtth,*«tfaoathoiiteats!  whydoetthoaaoeP''      ^^ 
Umb  Sir  Oawaine  in  hart  waxed  throe  « ;  S!S!£!for 

▼poB  hit  ffeete  can  etMnd,  ikitektef. 

h  eoooe  he  draw  oat  his  sword, 
4iU  A  satth,  ^  trsitor !  if  tfaoa  speake  a  word,  chnvaiM 

thjUSiisinniy  hand*;  lokiukiiik 

I  had  hot  one  stroke  att  thee, 

4  thoa  hast  had  another  att  mee, 
44  •       noe  &l8hood  in  me  thoa  foand ! " 

the  Knight  said  withonten  laine, 
"  I  wend  I  had  Sir  Oawaine  slaine, 
the  gentlest  KiM^^t  in  this  land  * ; 
4TS   men  told  me  of  great  renownc,  Bf«ib«idi« 


of  cartesie  thon  mi^t  hane  woon  the  crowne  Oftw^ 

abooe  both  free  A  boond,^ 

*  I  — yyc—  hfm  or  pcrliftpt  Etigkes,      eovardiee.      OmwaiiM  womiMt  not  to 


u*  rr«m. — P.  shrink  aiFAin,  ftands  finn,  and   Brrd- 

•  •oMcmt  OMMML  KoU  ioMS.  Sir      b^ddle  stnlM.    («L  MozrU,  £.  £.  Ttzt 


mmd  tkt  Grttn  Kmighi  buIm  Sue.  p.  72-4.>— F. 
0««v»»  aatwr  tliat  h*  »  nadj  and  *  MmntMt,  flindiMt,  ■hrinkMt. — F. 

vtQ  wA  tkfuik.    *  IVo  Um  grim  bub  *  lurte  idem  ac  Tiro,  apod  O.  I>oii|(^ 

•HV*  kM  fha  tool***  auikM,  and  u  it  feroz,  ac«r,  mudaz,  Tel  poCio*  pertioaz. 

^mtm  sMiBK  dovm,  OavaiB*  thriBka  m  Vide  Lve. — P. 
l«U.    BndlwldU  (UhU  is.  BwBUk  d«  •  bond.-P. 

\)  wyiceehf    hiai    for   his         *  LoDde.'P.  *  boiid.--P. 


76 


THE  GREKE  KKiaHT. 


hMkMthls 
three  chief 
Tirtoea,of 
tmth,  gen« 
tIene«,aiMi 
oourtesj. 

HehM 


•ndafaoald 

hareihAred 

It. 


7et  Bred> 
beddlewUl 


f orgiTe  him 
ifheniUke 
him  to 
Arthnr't 
ooort. 


*'  &  alsoe  of  great  gentrje ; 

476   &  now  3  points  ^  be  pat  fro  thee, 
it  is  the  Moe  pittye : 
Sir  Gawaine  !  thon  wast  not  Leele  * 
when  thon  didst  the  lace  oonceale 

480       that  mj  wiffe  gane  to  thee  ! 

**  ffor  wee  were  both,  thou  wist  foil  well, 
for  thou  hadst  the  halfe  dale  ' 

of  my  venerye  * ; 
484  if  the  lace  had  nener  beene  wrought, 

to  hane  slaane  thee  was  nener  my  thooghty 

I  swere  by  god  verelye ! 

^'  I  wist  it  well  my  wiffe  loned  thee ; 

488  thon  wold  doe  me  noe  villanyey 
bnt  nicked  her  with  nay ; 
bnt  wilt  thon  doe  as  I  bidd  thee, 
take  me  to  Arthurs  court  with  thee, 

492       then  were  all  to  my  pay.* 


>» 


Oftwaine 


Th^go 
iMckto 
Hntton 
Cutle, 
and  next 
day  on  to 
Aithnr't 
court. 


AH  rejoice 
at  Gawaine*! 
retom. 


now  are  the  Knighta  accorded  thore  * ; 
to  the  castle  of  button  ^  can  th6  fieure, 
to  lodge  there  all  that  night. 
496   earlye  on  the  other  day 

to  Arthurs  court  th^  tooke  the  way 
With  harts  blyth  &  light. 

all  the  Court  was  full  faine, 
600  aliue  when  they  saw  Str  Gawaine ; 
they  thanked  god  abone.® 


'  perhaps  these  points,  q.  d.  thou  hast 
forfeited  these  quaUties. — P. 

•  ».  e,  loyal,  honourable,  true. — ^P. 

•  A.-S.  ddl,  part.— F.  . 

•  venison,  or  rather  hunting.    So  in 
ChaucT.     Fr.  Venerie.     Urrjr. — P. 

•  content,  liking. — ^P. 

•  there.— P. 


'  Button  Manor-house,  [Somerset- 
shire] :  the  hall,  36  feet  by  20,  is  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  with  arched  roof  and 
panelled  chimney-p'ece.  JDomestic  Jrcki" 
tecture,  iii.  342.  The  scene  is  laid  '*in 
the  west  countrye,"  see  L  39,  L  615. — ^F. 

'  ?  MS.  aboue. — F.    aboone^  abone^ 
idem. — P. 


m  GBUB  KHIGHT.  77 

lAd  it  iiie  uMitter  A  the  OMe  Tktoitvhy 

whf  KM^to  of  iiie  bathe  weftre  the  laoe  SSk 

iM       TBiill  thflj  lyne  wooen  tbdr  ahoen,^  umtm 

tMrip 

or  die  a  kdye  of  bye  60W»  umoiL* 

from  ebcmt  hit  nedke  ihell  it  teke, 
Cir  the  dooi^i^  deeds  (Aot  bee  bath  done. 
lee  it  was  eoDfimed  bj  Arthur  the  K[i]ig ;] 
ttomwScr  Oawaines  desbinge 
The  Km^  gimsted  him  bis  boone. 

ThaacBdeth  the  talaof  the  greene  SjM^Jkt  bifitio] 

Sia  god,  lAet  ia  aoe  fbU  of  might,  God  hriam 

to  heaaen  their  aoolea  bring  inJfZi  tu 

ikat  haae  hard  thia  litle  atorje  T>>iuttto 

l&et  Ml  aome  timea  in  the  weat  ooontiye  te2tjRr«i» 
Sie       in  Arthara  daya  our  Sang !                  ffina. 

•  8m  p.  ISS,  L  ISSa^F. 


[It  wmj  l»  aoted,  that  m  Um  story  is      half  his  gettinp,  thrc*  kisses,  out  of 
hi  b«vp,  thm potnt  of  it  is  missed.     As      three  kisses  aods  Isoe.    As  he  couldn't 


of  BrfdbcddksodOawaine      nit  three  kisses  in  half;  to  go  with  the 
m  Wv  oolj  to  dUnr  with  the  other  what      half  of  the  hice,  he  dirided  the  sift  fairly 


««€•.  pu  71.  L  166,  not  to  rioii^  it,      in   another  waj,—the   three  kisses   to 
as   IA   tike   old   roaaDCA.       Bredbeddle      Bredbfddle,  the  lace  to  himself.   Rather 


mrm  fm9mtm0emij  half  his  rcnisoo,  p.  76,      hard  measure  to  lose  one's  *'  8  points 
I  f«X.  and  OswaiM  ^rm  Bredbcddle      for  that.— F.] 


»t 


'8 


The  earliest  known  existing  copy  of  this  Eomance  is  preserved 
at  Cambridge.  It  is  of  the  time  of  Henry  VL,  according  to 
Mr.  Halliwell,  who  has  edited  it  for  the  Percy  Society.  There 
is,  too,  an  old  MS.  copy  preserved  in  the  Bodleian  Library^ 
The  Eomance  once  enjoyed  a  wide  popularity.  It  was  twice 
printed  by  William  Copland.  From  one  of  these  editions  Mr. 
Ellis  draws  the  outline  he  gives  in  his  Ea/rly  English  Metrical 
Romances.  One  of  the  old  printed  versions  was  reprinted  by 
Mr.  Utterson  in  1817.  The  copy  here  given  differs  but  slightly 
from  Copland's  and  from  the  Cambridge  version.  The  more 
important  of  what  differences  there  are,  are  mentioned  in  the 
notes. 

The  piece  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  old  Eomances,  with  all 
their  vices  and  their  virtues ;  with  their  prolixity,  their  impro? 
bability,  their  exaggeration;  with  their  wild  graces  also,  their 
chivalrousness,  their  pageantry. 

The  story  tells  how  a  good  lord  and  his  gentle  lady  were 
estranged  by  the  treachery  of  their  steward ;  how  their  son,  con- 
ceived in  honour,  was  born  in  shame ;  how,  after  many  a  weary 
year,  the  execrable  fraud  was  discovered  ;  and  how,  at  last,  the  son 
(who  has  in  the  meantime  won  himself  a  wife)  and  his  mother 
are  happily  reunited  to  the  grieving  husband.  These  various 
incidents  are  described  with  much  power  and  feeling. 

King  Arradas  was  blessed  with  a  wife,  Margaret,  ^^  comely  to  be 
seen,  and  true  as  the  turtle-doves  on  trees."  As  their  union  was 
not  followed  by  the  birth  of  any  child,  the  King  determines  to 

>  271  StaaaM.— P. 


SIR  TRUMORE.  79 

go  and  fight  in  the  Holy  Land,  so  to  propitiate  Heaven  and  per- 
soade  it  to  grant  him  an  heir.  On  the  very  eve  of  his  departure 
his  desire  is  granted.  But  he  sets  forth  to  the  wars  not  knowing. 
During  his  absence  his  steward  Marrock  evilly  solicits  the 
Queen.  ''But  she  was  steadfast  in  her  thought."  When  the 
King  returned  from  heathenness,  and 

at  last  his  Queen  beheld. 
And  saw  her  go  great  with  child. 

He  wondered  at  that  thing. 
Many  a  time  he  did  her  IdBs, 
And  made  great  jqj  without  misa, 

Hia  heart  made  great  rejoicing. 

The  wicked  steward  avails  himself  of  the  King's  wonder  to 
insinuate,  and  more  than  insinuate,  that  the  child  is  none  of  his. 
The  King  unhappily  listens.  The  Queen  is  presently,  at  the 
steward's  advice,  banished  the  country. 

So  now  is  fodled  that  good  Queen, 
But  she  wist  not  what  it  did  mean, 
Nor  what  made  him  to  begin. 
To  speak  to  her  he  nay  would ; 
That  made  the  Queen's  heart  fall  cold, 

And  that  was  great  pity  and  sin. 

***** 

For  oft  she  mourned  as  he  did  fare, 
And  cried  and  sighed  full  sore. 

Lords,  knights,  and  ladies  gent 
Mourned  for  her  when  she  went, 
And  bewailed  her  that  season. 

In  this  way  came  to  pass  the  sad  schism  that  was  to  bring  so 
many  years  of  forlomness  and  anguish,  the  source  of  so  many 
bitter  tears  and  poignant  self-reproaches.  The  child  whom  the 
dishonoured  lady  then  bore  in  her  womb  was  to  be  a  full-grown 
man,  and  a  warrior  even  more  formidable  than  his  father  himself, 
ere  Arradas  and  Margaret  kissed  conjugally  again.  Who  does 
not  rejoice  when  the  fair  fame  of  this  true  wife  is  vindicated,  the 
iniquity  of  her  tempter  made  bare?  When  at  last,  at  the 
marriage  of  their  son.  Sir  Triamour,  to  the  beautiful  Helen  of 
Hungary,  she  and  her  husband  are  again  brought  face  to  face : 


80 


SIR  TRIAHORE. 


King  Amdas  beheld  his  Qaeen ; 
Him  thought  that  he  had  her  seen, 

She  was  a  lady  faire. 
The  King  said,  **  If  it  is  yonr  wish, 
Your  name  me  for  to  tell, 

I  pray  you  with  words  fSBur.** 

**  My  lord,"  said  she,  "  I  was  your  Qneen ; 
Your  steward  did  me  ill  teen. 

That  evil  might  him  befalll " 
The  King  spake  no  more  words 
Till  the  cloths  were  drawn  from  the  boards, 

And  men  rose  in  hall. 
And  by  the  hand  he  took  the  Queen, 
So  in  the  chamber  forth  he  went. 

And  there  she  told  him  alL 

Then  was  there  great  joy  and  bliss 
When  they  together  gan  kiss ; 

Then  all  the  company  made  joy  enough. 


But  we  do  not  propose  here  to  gather  the  wild  flowers  of  this 
poem  for  our  readers.  They  shall  wander  through  the  meadows 
and  cull  for  themselves.  They  will  easily  find  them  blowing 
and  blooming,  if  they  have  any  care  for  the  blossoms  of  Romance. 


Oodblen 
yoaalli 


If  youni 
listen, 
m  teU  yoa 
atale 


of  King 
Arradas 


•ndQneen 
ICargaret, 

who  waa 
defamed  by 


8 


12 


Low  ^  lesns  christ,  o'  heanen  King! 
grant  yon  all  his  deare  blessing, 

&  his  heanen  for  to  win  ! 
if  you  will  a  stond  *  lay  to  your  eare, 
of  adventures  you  shall  heare 

that  wilbe  to  yowr  liking, 

of  a  King  &  of  a  queene 

that  had  great  loy  them  betweene ; 

Sit  Arradas  ^  was  his  name ; 
he  had  a  queene  named  Margarett, 
shee  was  as  true  as  Steele,  &  sweety 

&  full  &lse  brought  in  fame  * 


■  Now. — Cop.  (or  Copland's  edition. 
Collated  by  Mr.  Hales.) 

*  our. — Cop. 

•  stounde. — Cop. 


*  Ardos. — Ca.    (or  Cambridge   text, 
ed.  HalliweU.— F.) 

*  erU  report,  disrepute ;  L.  /mm  (In 
a  bad  sense),  ill-zepnte,  infiunj,  eeudal ; 


MR   TBUUOU.  81 

by  dM  Ku^  (tewmrd  Ikut  M&nocke  h^it,  »ifan«* 

«  tnulor  A  k  him  Icnighl : 

hptkABT  jee  wilt  Mj-  nil  tli(>  Mmft. 
b««  tuucwd  irell  (A^t  Lodjo  ^eui; 
A  fcr  Aaa  w^.not  wttb  him  ooBMot,  tMi^a** 

W  did  fkifc  good  QNMMmncbdniM.  SS'iTkL. 

tUi  Eiif  loMd  mil  hi!  QsMne  ff^mt 

Waww  Aw  WM  comly '  to  be  iBeiw,  m^p** 

A  ■■  tme  ai  tlw  taitle  on  trae. 

lUUr  to  other  mads  grmt  Howe,  ^^ 

ftr  ckOdnB  together  had  the7  nrae  *^-*^ 

bagottv  on  thnr  bodjre ; 

^■liiil  tliuYiwj),  T  iiiiliiiilliiil.  wdAniM 

■Mde  •  TOW  to  goe  to  the  hofy  land,  mwiim* 

OOTefcrtoflgfatAfbrtoalaji;  ^X 

A  |waid  god  Hat  he  wold  Mad  him  tho  rmtafat 

gnea  to  gett »  ddid  b»-tweeiie  them  tow»  m  kife. 

Oat  the  right  h«re  mi^t  bee. 

Ibr  hia  tow  he  did  there  make, 

A  of  the  pope  the  Grosae  he  did  take, 

lor  to  aeek  the  hmd  were  god  him  bought. 
the  night  of  hie  departing,  on  the  l4ulje  Mild, 
ae  god  it  wold,  hee  gott  *  a  child ;  SUSi'^t 

b«t  thqr  both  wiet  itt  naoght.  ■u^'" 


A  on  the  morrow  when  it  waa  day 
iha  Kimy  hyed  on  hia  lonraej ; 
Ibr  to  tmnj,  he  it  not  thought. 


\ 


MM.    {WUt..)    Camfun  71*    SfUfr  ./  £mm  Drgrr. 

7U(«d.mlk.  (Kiucij,.  1.1.IU1]1).-F. 

IwukMiuablM.  .''^~^ 


82 


m  niAMosK. 


■OUUUy 


40     thea  the  Queene  hegma  io  maarab 

becsnse  her  Lt>rJ  wold  noe  longer  aoioiinie 
thee  sif^iedfiill  aore,  ds  sobbed  oft. 


Mamtkto 
imk»emnol 


■ndpwito 
theioly 


wooMtbe 


sndiMkito 
lie  with  iMT. 


Uttgaxtttis 

ttatf 


themrigiiii 
a  knight^ 


the  Kin^  &  his  men  armed 
44      both  Lordky  Barrona^  & 
with  him  for  to  goe. 

then  betweene  her  &  tiie 

was  nmch  sorrow  & 
48         when  tii^  shold  depart  in  tooi 

he  kissed  &  tooke  his  leane  of  the  Q^eenef 
&  other  Ladies  bright  &  sheene, 
&  of  Marrocke  his  steward  alsoe ; 

55  the  'King  commanded  him  on  paine  of  his  li£o 
for  to  keepe  well  his  qneene  ds  wiffe 

both  in  weale  &  woe. 

now  is  the  King  forth  gone 

56  to  the  phice  where  god  was  on  the  creese  done, 

&  warreth  there  a  while, 
then  bethought  this  fiJse  steward — 
as  yee  shall  here  after[wardy^]^- 
60         his  lord  &  King  to  begoile ; 

he  wooed  '  the  Queene  day  A  night 
for  to  lye  with  her,  &  he  might ; 

he  dread  no  creature  thoe. 
64     ffull  &yre  hee  did  that  Lady  speake,  [pcge  21 

thai  he  might  in  bed  with  thai  Ladye  sleepe ; 

thus  full  ofl  he  prayed  her  thoe. 

but  shee  was  stedfieist  in  her  thought, 
68      &  heard  them  speake,  &  said  nought 
till  hee  all  his  case  '  had  told. 


»  MS.  hewafter.    P.  has  added  «wr<?.— F.         *  wowed.— €op.         •  tale.— Coj 


SIB  TBIAHORE. 


83 


then  shee  fnid,  **  Marrocke,  hast  thou  not  thought 
an  that  ihou  speakeest  is  ffor  nought  ? 
73         I  trow  not  that  thon  wold  ^ ; 


mnd 

prottclies 

Marxock. 


76 


*'  for  well  my  Lord  did  trust  thee, 
when  hee  to  jon  delinered  mee 

to  haue  me  vnder  the'  hold ; 
A  [thon]  woldest  ftill  £une 
to  doe  thy  Lord  shame ! 

traitor,  thou  art  to  bold ! '' 


Her  lofd 
tnuted  him, 


and  he 
betrays  hia 

tXUBt, 


then  said  Marrocke  vnto  that  Ladje, 
80     *'  my  Lord  is  gone  now  verelye 
against  ^ods  foes  to  ffight ; 
&f  without  the  more  wonder  bee, 
hee  shall  come  noe  more  att  thee, 
S4         as  I  am  a  true  knight. 


Ifarrook 

teUfltha 
Queen 


that 

is  sure  new 

to  return; 


8S 


**•  &  Madam,  wee  will  worke  soe  priuilye, 
that  wethere  '  he  doe  line  or  dye, 

for  of  this  shall  *  witt  noe  wight.*  " 
then  waxed  the  Queene  wonderous  [wroth,*] 
&  swore  many  a  great  othe 

as  shee  was  a  true  woman. 


andpromini 
to  keq>  their 
sin  secret* 


Margaret 
angrily 


shee  said,  "  traitor  !  if  euer  thou  be  soe  hardiye 
92     to  show  me  of  such  yillanye, 

on  a  gallow  tree  I  will  thee  hange  ! 

if  I  may  know  after  this 

that  thou  tice  me,  I- wis  ^ 
96         thou  shalt  haue  the  law  of  the  land.*' 


threatena  to 

hang 

Marrock, 


if  he  says 
another 
word  to  her. 


*  I  didn't  think  you  were  capable  of 
this. — F. 

'  they. — Cop. 

'  After  the  first  e  an  kin  marked  out. 
— F. 


•  there  shaU. — Ca. 

•  man. — P. 

•  Added  by  Percy.— F. 

'  tyce  me  to  do  a  mysse. — Cop. 


o  2 


84 


8IB  TRIAlfOBE. 


lUrrock 
Msarestaer 
he  meant 
her  no 
wrong, 

hat  only  to 
try  her 
trnth. 


StV  Marroccke  said,  "  Ladye,  mercye  I 
I  said  itt  for  noe  villain^, 

by  lesn,  lieanen  Einge  ! 
100   but  only  for  to  proue  yowr  will, 
whether  thai  you  were  good  or  ill, 

&  for  noe  other  thinge ; 


Now  he 

knowiiheis 

tme. 


she  must  not 
berexed. 


"  but  now,  Madam,  I  may  well  see 
104  you  are  as  true  as  turtle  on  the  tree  * 
vnto  my  Loi*d  the  King ; 

&  itt  is  to  me  both  glad  &  leefe ; 

therfore  take  it  not  into  greefe 
108       for  noe  manner  of  thinge." 


lierRBret 
beUereehlm. 


Bat 
lUrrock, 

dtagosted. 


&  soe  the  traitor  excused  him  thoe, 
the  Lady  wend  itt  had  beene  soe 

as  the  steward  had  said. 
112    he  went  forth,  &  held  him  still, 

&  thought  he  cold  not  haue  his  will ; 

therfore  hee  was  euill  apayd. 


■obemee  how 
to  betny 
her, 

ahd  does  it. 


'  soe  with  treason  &  trecherye 
116    he  thought  to  doe  her  villanye ; 
thus  to  himselfe  he  said, 
night  &  day  hee  laboured  then 
for  to  betray  *  thui  good  woman ; 
120       soe  att  the  last  he  her  betraid. 


AiradM 


now  of  this  good  Qneene  leaue  wee, 
&  by  the  grace  of  the  holy  trinityo 

full  great  with  child  did  shee  gone. 
124   now  of  King  Arradas  speake  wee, 
that  soe  farr  in  heathinnesse  is  hee 

to  fight  against  gods  fone  ^ ; 


*  as  stele  on  tree. — Ca. 

'  This  stanca  is  not  in  Ca.— F. 


■  deoeyue. — Cop. 
•  fonne. — Cop. 


81 K   TRIIUOIIR. 

then  With  bis  utny  &  all  hk  might 
lat    almw  ta»Bj  ■  aamxen  '  in  6ght. 
fjtmt  wtirda  of  thom  thore  rose 

ia  ihe  h«»lbm  IadJ,  d  ftl«oe  in  Paguni  * ; 

A  in  rDrrre  ntlii-r  Ljind  that  they  come  bjB, 
IM       AwtqnngoflnmgrMtloMe* 

irtNB  [bs  *]  had  done  bia  pilgrimage, 
A  Unnd  all  Uat  great  TC7«ga  ■ 

wA  an  hii  good  will  Jk  lybertye, —  [p 

Ut   att  &»•  loidoD  &  Kt(  BetUem,* 
A  att  OaloaiTa  bonds  lenualem, 

is  aU  tba  pkoM  WM  bee ; — 

tbaa  ba  loDgad  to  oomo  boms 
IM  to  MO  bia  I^jB  lAot  tiosd  at  one ; 
bs  tboo^it  ooar  m  ber  great! je. 

■M  kng  tU  lealed  on  tbe  foms 

tin  Bit  tbs  laat  tbej' came  home  J 
IM       ba  anioad  oner  the  iMrt  *  atnmd. 

the  sfaippee  did  etnke  their  tayles  eche  one, 
tbe  men  were  gUd  the  King  c&me  home 

Tsto  hia  owne  Land. 
I«a    there  waa  both  mirth  &,  game, 

the  Qii««n<  of  hia  cominge  was  glad  A  fiune, 

Eche  of  them  told  other  tydand.* 

tbe  Km^  at  laat  bta  Qneene  beheld, 
US    A  nw  beer  go*  great  with  childe : 

[A  *]  bee  wondred  att  that  thioge. 


T»yge.— Cop. 

•  BnUMDI, — Cop, 

•  «]le.— Cop. 

*  tjdjngr. — Cop. 

*  A  hoU  ia  Um  m— P. 


86 


Sn  TBIAXOSB. 


laDsUm 


tiMttiM 

chUdk 


man  J  a  tnne  be  did  ber  kine, 
&  nuide  gremt  ioj  withoat  miflae  ; 
156        his  hart*  made  great  reiooeiiige. 

Boone  after  the  Km^  hard  tydingea  newe 
bj  Marroccke :  thai  fiJse  knight  yntme 

with  reason  his  lord  gan  fraine, 
ISO    "  my  lord,"  he  sayd,  "  for  gods  •  byne  •  ! 
for  of  that  childe  ikat  nener  was  thine,^ 

why  art  thow  aoe  &yne  ? 


u 


BOChia.   Hte 


beenfmlae; 
Knothtr 

tiMehOiL 


yon  wend  that  itt  your  owne  bee ; 
164   bat,"  he  said,  '*  Sir,  ffbr  certaintye 
your  Qu^en^  hath  yoa  betraine ; 
another  Knightj  soe  god  me  speed, 
begott  this  child  sith  yoa  yeed, 
168        &  hath  thy  Queene  forlaine.'* 


Wbenlpot 
her  inTOur 
charge?" 


lUrrock 

ezcuaes 
himMlf, 


trat  declare! 
be  saw  a 
knight  lie 
with  her, 


for  which  he 
killed  him. 


*^  Alas !  "  said  the  Km^,  *'  how  may  this  bee  ? 
for  I  betooke  her  ynto  thee, 
her  to  keepe  in  waile  A  woe*  ; 
172    A  vnder  thy  keeping  how  fortaned  this 
that  thoa  soffered  her  doe  amisse  ? 

alas,  Marroccke !  why  did  thoa  aoe  ?  " 
"  Str,"  said  the  steward,  "  blame  not  me ; 
176   for  much  mone  shee  made  for  thee, 

as  though  shee  had  loued  noe  more ; 

"  I  trowed  on  her  noe  yillanye 
till  I  saw  one  lye  her  by, 
180        as  the  Mele  *  had  wrought, 
to  him  I  came  with  Egar  mood, 
&  slew  the  traitor  as  he  stood ; 
fail  sore  itt  [me]  forethought. 


»  Plwt  written  haU.—'E, 

•  Goddes. — Cop. 

•  Goddys  pyne. — Ca. 

•  MS.  thine  was.— F. 


•  weal  &  woe. — ^P. 

*  ?  Fr.  fiudt  evil ;  or  mMe,  a  miztax 
mingling,  melling.    OotgraTe. — ^F. 


81 

IM      "  then  ahw  trowpd  rIioo  r1ioI<I  ba  ahfliit,  ««*« 

>  |iiiiiiiil liiilli  Taiiil  Ik  I  .  mimiS 

■M  &]rra  iliM  ow  besonght 

to  do0  w«th  bar  >D  my  will  k«Mitte 

IM    if  Ort  I  wold  [kavpe]  me  alill,  »•«-». 
A  Ml  70a  luuagfat." 

"of  lUi^"  Mid  tha  Km;,  "IbaiM  gimt  wonder ;       irniitiii 
ftwHtnnr  n^  bait  win  bneka  umnder '  I 
IM         wkj  hath  ahee  done  ■miiri  P 
■Im  !  to  wbome  ■bkll  I  me  mone, 

■th  I  bane  lost  mj  oomlje  Queaie  b>imm 

Oat  I  WH  want  to  kiMe  f  " 

IM    thaEMf  Mid,"  UHTOQoke,  what  iitby  read  P  wM«Mta 

itkberttotaniatodMdi  utaff" 

117  kdya  ttot  bath  done  me  thii  ■  j 
■owbaMOM  ttottbMiafiklM  tomee, 
SM    I  wiD  neur  mon  bar  eee, 

>or  deale  wfth  hat,  I-wiM*.*" 

the  rteward  eaid,  "  Lord,  doe  not  loe ;  umA 

thod  ahah  neither  borne  ne  aloe,* 
M4        bat  doe  aa  I  joa  ahall  jon  tell." 
Hanoocke  m; d,  "  this  conncell  I : 

faaniah  bar  ont  of  jour  Land  prinilTe,  ubm 

hr  into  exile. 

Ma    **  delhur  her  an  ambling  *  steede,  [iae*ni)  pm^t 

A  an  old  KnigH  to  her  lead  ;  ^^ 

thna  hj  mj  oooncell  aee*  yee  doe; 

'  MMte.— Cop.  *  r»Ti.-Co|L, 

'  1  tow  m  fat  *ww.  rp.  L  SOt.— P.  *  fla— Cop. 

kvaa*  htf  ia<Ud.— Cop.  *  UDtvljog*'— C«p.    aaU*.— Ot. 

WWWr  t^l  «b*  b*  <laa«  to  dtdd  *  loka.— Cop. 


88 


Snt  TBIAHOBB. 


sod  mODBJt 

«Qdl0tbar 
go. 


&  gine  them  some  spending  money 
S12    that  may  them  out  of  the  land  bring ; 
I  wold  noe  better  then  soe. 


*<  &  an  other  mans  child  shalbe  you  heyre, 
itt  were  neither  good  nor  fayre 
SI 6       but  if  itt  were  of  your  kin." 

then  said  the  King^  ''  soe  mote  I  thee, 
right  as  thou  sayest,  soe  shall  it  bee, 
&  erst  will  I  neuer  blin.^" 


QQ6SD 

Hazgaretls 
tobe  exiled; 


the  King 
will  not 
■peak  to  her. 


S20   Loe,  now  is  exiled  that  good  Queene ; 
but  shee  wist  not  what  it  did  meane, 

nor  what  made  him  to  begin, 
to  speake  to  her  he  nay  wold ; 
S24    that  made  the  Queenes  hart  full  cold, 
&  that  was  great  pittye  A  sin. 


He  givee  her 
an  old  teteed, 


an  old 
knifi^t, 
Sir  Roger, 
to  look  after 
her, 


he  did  her  cloth  in  purple  '  weede, 
&  set  her  on  an  old  steed 
228        that  was  both  crooked  &  almost  blinde ; 
he  tooke  her  an  old  Enight, 
kine  to  the  Queene,  Sir  Rodger '  hight, 
that  was  both  curteous  ^  A  kind. 


and  three 
days  to  qait 
the  land  in, 


(or  the 
Queen  will 
be  burnt,) 


232   3  dayes  he  gaue  them  leaue  *  to  passe, 
&  after  that  day  sett  was, 
if  men  might  them  find, 
the  Queene  shold  burned  ^  be  starke  dead 
236   in  a  ffyer  with  flames  redd : 

this  came  of  the  stewards  ^  mind.* 


»  blyne. — Cop. 

•  He  let  clothe  hur  in  gympulle. — Ca. 

•  Roger.—  Cop. 

•  curteyse. — Uop. 


*  And  gaf  them  twenty  dayes.^  Ca. 

•  brenned. — Cop. 
'  stuardes. — Cop. 

'  mimd,  in  the  MS. — ^F. 


SS^ 


fn  TntAKOBi. 

4f^  flnmices  for  their  ezpence  ' 
tb*  Kuay  did  gine  thma  in  lik8  jrn 
I        A  conaMttded  tliom  to  )p>c, 
tka  lAdya  mourned  m  abee  ihold  dje ; 
far  an  tlus  alue  wist  not  yrhje 
hM  &nd  with  her  eoe. 

<    tkai  good  Vjugkb  ootnfiirted  the  Qneene, 
A  aud,  **  »tt  gode  will  all  must  beene ; 

thaifim,  IffadiD,  monme  yon  noe  mon." 
8v  Bodger  fa*  her  heth  much  care, 
I    [For  oAe  she  monmed  sa  she  dyd  &i«,*] 
A  ojod  A  sighed  ftiUaore; 

Lords,  Knights,  A  Udyes  gent 
■KMiBad  fa*  her  when  shee  wenl^ 
I       A  be-wBjIed  *  her  thai  season. 
the  Qneene  begsa  to  make  sorrow  ft  oare 
■  hwi  wkmm  from  the  Kitty  shold  fiuv 
wtth  wToo^  against  all  reason, 
I    fatit  thejr  weot,  in  nnmber*  8, 
8v  BodgcT,  the  Qneene,  A  his  greyhound  tmlje ; 
ah  !  o  *  worth  wicked  treason  ! 

then  tbonght  the  steward  tnilje 
I    to  doe  the  Qneone  a  Tillwiye, 

A  to  wotke  with  her  his  will. 
he  ordsioed  him  a  companje 
of  his  owne  man  prinily e 

tkat  wold  assent  him  till ; 

sU  Tikder  a  Wood  *  side  they  did  lye 

wheras  the  Qneene  shold  passe  by, 

A  held  them  wonderons  still ; 


'  TWMj  lotiHS  to  ifcat*  tpMdjagr.  *  nnnnbfr.  in  Ui>  MB. — P. 

'"niiHBrM&qBCapUwritezl.— H.  •  vuIm.— Cop.     The  IF i«  msd*  liki 

*  MA  W  njbd— K  r*  is  (b*  MS.— P. 


90 


SIB   TRIAMOSS. 


to  work  hit 
batoatacr. 


Sir 


PSOBTB 


Sir  Roger 


for  drfeiiOBi* 


llarrock 
UuneatexkBto 
kill  him. 


81r  Roger 
defieahlm. 


attadahls 
meiiy 


268    &  tliere  he  thongbt  Terelje 
his  good  Qaeene  for  to  lye  by, 
his  hists  ^  for  to  fblfilL 

A  when  hee  came  into  the  wood, 
272    Sir  Bodger  &  the  Qaeene  soe  good, 
&  there'  to  passe  with-ont  doubt ; 
with  thai  thej  were  ware  of  the  steward, 
how  hee  was  coming  to  them  ward 
276        with  a  ffoll  great  roat. 

^^  heere  is  treason !  *'  then  said  the  Qaeene. 
"alas!  "  said  Roger,  "what  may  this 

with  foes  wee  be  sett  roand  aboat.'* 
280   the  Ejtt^At  sayd,  "  heere  will  wee  dwell ; 
Oar  liffe  wee  shaQ  fall  deere  sell, 

be  they  neaer  soe  stoat. 

"  Madam,"  he  sayd,  "  be  not  afiayd, 
284   for  I  thinke  heere  with  this  sword 
thai  I  shaQ  make  them  lowte." 
then  cryed  the  steward  to  Sir  Bodger  on  hye, 
A  said,  "  hord,^  traitor !  thoa  shalt  dye ! 
288       for  thai  I  goe  aboat." 

Sir  Bodger  said,  "  not  for  thee ! 
my  death  shalt  thoa  deare  abye; 
for  with  thee  will  I  fight." 
292    he  went  to  him  shortlyCi 

&  old  Sir  Bodger  bare  him  manfollye  ^ 
like  a  fall  hardye  Knight ; 

he  hewed  on  them  boldlye ; 
296    there  was  none  of  thai  companye 
Boe  hardye  nor  sow  *  wight. 


[PW214] 


'  Instes. — Cap. 

'  ?  constmctioo.    Is  there  miflwritten 
for  thought,  or  is  thought  understood,  or 


is  thereto  one  word  ?— H. 

•  olde.>-Cop.  ♦  manly. — Oop. 

•  so. — Cop. 


Kta  TRIUIOkB.  91 

Sir  Rodger  hitl '  ono  on  the  hMtd  jUta  dm  m 

Uua  to  Uio  ^nlle  llio  sirnnl  Teed, 
aw       ttmmtheaof  tbe&iqnitte*; 

h»  tmetm  m  ttroka -with  ^  wwoid' gooi  «»■«■ 

Aot  tn  abodt  tlwm  nn  the  blood, 

KM  aort  he  did  them  nnite -,  *^£nd. 

SM   trd7»-hM,*  hu  gi«f hoand  Uat  wh  mw  *  good,  ^ry^ 

did  halpa  his  ma*<ar,  A  ^  him  ttood, 

A  hittorl j«  GMi  ks  bjte. 

Am  Oat  Udf,  lAot  &7»  Ibod^*  ^^ 

SM  ^  band  Kanoek*  in  hsr  mood ; 

ifaM  t^t  m  fboto,  A  left  hflT  ateede,  mh  n  nn, 

A  no  bat,  A  vtdd  sot  Iwne,  nv  nvi 

A  hid  har  Tadar  ft  greana  greaoe,'  y^JMw 

na       far  ahaa  waa  in  great  dwd. 

SffBodgerthanthaQMMiMCwfadiold.  Hrbvr 

A  of  hM  h*  1m  did  nothing  h(dd ; 

hia  good  gnjbonnd  did  help  him  indeed, 
Sia    A,  ■■  itt  ia  in  the  nnnana  *  told, 

U  he  ilew  of  jeomen  •  bold  ;i»  ^SllSr" 

aoe  be  quitted  him  in  f  Aat  ateade. 

if  hee  had  beene  armed,  I-wiaae  ■' 
aSD    all  the  HaateTye  had  been  bis ; 
alaa  hee  lacked  weed. 

aa  good  S<r  Bodger  gane  a  stroak«, 

bahiad  him  came  Sir  Marroccke, — 
•M       (Aot  eniU  might  he  apeed, — 


q«jt*. — Coil 
mfdf.  —  Cop. 


>  Kodiajnea. — 


ijnea. — Cop. 


'  T«»w»Ui»».— Ot  '•  li?  Syr  Ht^r  dvwn*  e 

•  i<  M  1^  Md  ha  bttn  MilMd  ovt       Ck. 


£2 


gOL  TBTAXOU. 


tiktimek 


UDi 


lorUw 


he  smote  Sir  Rodger  with  a 
&  to  the  ground  he  did  hnn 

&  fiist  that  Knitjkt  did  bleed. 
Sir  Marroccke  gmae  him  such  a 
that  he  dred  there  on  ground, 

A  that  was  a  sinfoll  deede. 


now  is  Rodger  slaine  certain^. 

335  he  rode  forth  &  let  him  Lye, 

&  sought  after  the  Qaeene. 
fast  hee  rode,  A  sought  euerje  waj, 
yet  wist  he  not  where  the  Qaeene  Laje. 

336  then  said  the  traitor  teene ;  ^ 


but csnooi 
find  bcr:  he 


Cfuer  all  the  wood  hee  her  sought ; 
but  as  god  wold,  he  found  her  nought, 
then  waxed  he  wrath,  I  weene, 

gets  wroth,    ^^   ^  ^^^  ^  loumej  euill  besett, 

that  with  the  Qaeene  had  not  mett 

to  haue  had  his  pleasure,  Hhe  traitor  keene. 


madgom 
borne, 


Boger'i 
oorpM  on 
tbew»7. 


&  when  he  cold  not  the  ladj  finde, 
344    homeward  they  began  to  wend, 

hard  by  where  Sir  Rodger  Lay. 
■tabbing  Sir  ^^  Steward  '  him  thrast  throughout, 

for  of  his  death,  he  had  noe  doubt, 
348       &  this  the  storye  doth  say. 


&  when  the  traitor  had  done  soe, 
he  let  him  lye  &  went  him  firoe, 
&  tooke  noe  thought  that  day ; 
352   yett  all  his  companye  was  nye  gone, 
14  he  left  there  dead  for  one ; 
there  passed  but  4  away.' 


and  having 
lost  fourteen 
men. 


'  If  a  stanza  is  not  omitted,  said  must 
mean  assayed,  tried. — F. 
•  stuarafi.--Ck)p. 


'  zl.  he  had  channged  for  cone. 
Ther  skaped  bat  two  away.— (X 


SIR  nujuiau. 

a  WM  BnU  wo«s 
mt    And  ifcM  MW  (JUt  tliej  were  gw,  C»vi 

■faca  nMde  •orrtnr  &  aje. 
Umb  ahn  nMs  A  wmt  of^aine 
ki  Sit  Rodger,  h  roond  bim  slftine ; 
Ml        hia  ifnjr'bonnd  tij  Itta  lect  did  Ijc 

"  «1m,"  thee  aatd,  *'  iAat  I  wna  boifM ! 
mj  tRw  kMtVAt  "^L  I  h*aii  lunw, 
they  htkoe  lum  Umuv  al«ine  !  " 
SM    hU  ^tlMHulje  aliee  mwl  ber  n>o*iu^ 
A  ikid,  "  now  must  I  (ri>«  alone  !  " 
dw  gny -lioaBd  ibee  wold  haoa  had  fhll  &iiiB  ; 

Uie  bosnd  Blin  l]7  hia  Moifar  did  IjB, 

Mi    ha  filled  hia  mmndi,  A  did  whine  A  aye. 

tUa  to  na  tbe  Qiaena  had  pains, 

A  Mid,  "SvBogor,  tiuahaatthoafbrmal 

aW  Oat  [it]  ihold  ewN- bee  I  " 
K»       bar  kajie  ihae  tan  in  twajne ; 

A  then  abee  went  A  tooke  her  ■teed, 
A  wold  noe  longer  there  aby de 

lc«t  men  ahold  find  her  there. 
Kt    ahee  aaid,  *■  Sir  Boger,  now  Ihaa  art  dead, 
who  will  the  right  waj  now  me  lead  F 

tor  now  tbow  majat  apeake  noe  more." 

fight  on  the  ground  there  aa  bo  lay  dead, 
MO    abee  kiat  bim  or  abee  from  bim  yead.' 
god  wott  ber  hart  waa  aore  I 

what  for  aoTTOw  A  dread, 

bat  awaj  abee  can  ber  apeede, 
JM        abee  wiat  not  wither  nor  where. 

■  lUaiaMdMt  it  aol  ia  C>.— F. 


94 


SIR  TBIAMOBE. 


Thehoand 


licks  bifl 
nuMter's 
woondB,  to 


WbAtloTel 


The  bound 

■crapos  ft 
grave, 
and  buriee 
hiamftster. 


Maivarei 


rid<«  on  into 
Uuntfftry. 


Th(t  palni  of 
Ubour  oomo 
on, 


the  good  grajhonnd  for  waile  A  woe 
from  the  Knight  hee  wold  not  goe, 

bat  Lay  &  licked  his  wound ; 
388    he  waite  >  to  hane  healed  them,  againe, 
&  therto  he  did  his  paine : 

loe,  snch  lone  is  in  a  hound' ! 

thi§  knight  lay  tiU  he  did  »  stinke  ; 

392   the  greajhonnd  he  began  to  thinke, 
&  scraped  a  pitt  anon  ; 
therin  he  drew  the  dead  ^  corse, 
&  conered  itt  with  earth  &  Mosse,^ 

396        &  from  him  he  wold  not  gone. 

the  grajhonnd  lay  still  there ; 
this  Queene  gan  forth  to  hre 

for  dread  of  her  fone ; 
400    shoe  had  great  sorrow  in  her  hart, 

the  thomes  pricked  her  wonderoos  smart,^ 

shee  wist  not  wither  to  goe. 

this  lady  forth  fast  can  hye 

404   into  the  land  of  Hngarye  ^ ; 

thither  came  shee  with  great  woe. 
at  last  shee  came  to  a  wood  side, 
bat  then  cold  shee  noe  further  ryde, 

408       her  paynes  tooke  her  soe. 

shee  lighted  downe  in  that  iyde, 

for  there  shee  did  her  trauncell  *  abyde ; 

god  wold  that  it  shold  be  soe. 
412   then  shee  wtth  much  paine 
tyed  her  horsse  by  the  rayne, 

&  rested  her  there  till  her  paynes  were  goe. 


'  expected. — F. 

■  (J rote  kyndenes  ys in  howndys. — Ca. 

■  Tho  last  d  is  made  over  an  s  in  the 
MS.— K.  *  deed.— Cop. 

*  And  scraped  on  hym  bothe  ryne  and 


mosse. — Ca. 

*  wonder  smert. — Cop. 

*  Hongaiye. — Ca.    Hongrye. — Cop. 

*  for  traueU,    travail, — ¥.     trmoaylL 
—Cop. 


SB  TBUMOKK. 

■bw  WM  ddhurad  of  ft  mutchild  nnete ; 

4i«   A  whaa  it  bagm  to  orje  A  ireepe,  | 

it  iojsd  her  hart  grefttl  j«.  , 

aooiA  aftor,  whan  ■hea  mi^t  Btiir, 
ahea  tooke  her  child  to  her  ftill  naera,  i 

4M       And  wi^'itt  foil  aoAlre.  [PMinij  ' 

What  for  weaiye  A  fi>r  woe, 
Oaj  Ml  a.alaepa  both  towe ;  ; 

bar  atead  atood  bar  behind. 
4S4  then  oama  a  ka^U  lydjuid  theiv,*  i 

A  finmd  tbia  ladja  aoe  lonelja  of  cheere  ■ 

aa  baa  bontad  aftar  the  hind. 

tha  Ka£^At  hight  Bernard  Moirswinge,* 
4aa    Uat  foond  the  Qimmm  eleepinge, 
Tnder  tha  greenwoode  Ijaade.* 

BoAlja  ha  went  naere  A  neera ; 

ha  went  on  foot,  A  bebeld  her  ohaere, 
4Si       aa  a  Kni^At  cnrtaona  A  kind. 

he  awaked  Utat  ladje  of  beaw^a*  ;  nkmtm. 
■hee  looked  on  him  pit(«ou8lee, 

A  waa  affrajd*  fnll  sore. 

4Sa    he  laid,  "  what  doe  jon  here,  Madame  ?  ud  aki  h* 

of  whence  be  jou,  or  whats  your  name?  dDtatto*. 

haue  yon  your  men  forlome  ^  ?  "  uoar 

"  Sir,"  shee  aayd,  "  if  yoo  will  witt,' 
«40    mj  name  ia*  called  Uargerett;  -Ifanu*; 

in  Arragoa  I  was  borne  ; 

heere  I  mflenl  mnch  greefe  ; 

heipe  mo,  8tr,*»  ont  oftbiA  Hircheefo !  brtf«.i- 

444        aU  eome  towne  Uat  I  were." 

'  vmyad. — CoiiL  *  arm]*. — Cop. 

'wn^-Oip.  '  US.  rorlonnf.— P.     bxkat.—F. 

'  Ba  danmiit  M mi mgir «■—€■■  Bar-  '  wftf.—Cop. 

M  Wif  »iM^i.— Cop.  •  MS.  i*  u  1  i/or  it  >■.—?. 

'  >jtdt:    Ciiy.  ■•  Thw*upi«nft«o>dlik*i(BwriCMl 

Wau.— Cup.  oat  bM*  ia  t£a  MS.—T. 


96 


SIB  TRIAHORE. 


habj 


to 


bnrftUalM 


Imt  bof 


the  Knight  beheld  the  Ladje  good ; 
hee '  thought  shee  was  of  gentle  blood 

that  was  soe  hard  bestead  ' ; 
44S   he  tooke  her  yp  cnrteousl je, 
&  the  chOd  that  laj  her  bje  ; 

them  both  with  him  he  led, 

&  made  her  bane  a  woman  att  will, 
452   tendinge  of  her,  as  itt  was  skill,' 
all  for  to  bring  her  a-bedd. 
whatsoener  shee  wold  bane, 
shee  needed  itt  not  long  to  crane, 
456        her  speech  was  right  soone  sped. 

the  christened  the  child  with  great  honotir, 
&  named  him  Sir  Trtamobb. 
then  the  J  were  of  him  glad ; 
460    great  gifts  to  him  was  ginen 
of  Lonfs  &  ladjes  bj-deene, 
in  bookes  as  I  read. 


•Ddstojs 
withkMr 
Mw  friends. 


Triamofreia 

taught 

ooorteBy, 


and  all  folk 
love  him. 


there  dwelled  that  Ladje  longe 
464    with  mnch  loj  them  amonge ; 

of  her  th^  were  neoer  wearye. 
the  child  was  tanght  great  nurterje  ^  ; 
a  'Master  had  him  ynder  his  care, 
468        &  tanght  him  cnrtesie.^ 

this  child  waxed  wonderons  well, 
of  great  stature  both  of  fleshe  A  fell ; 
enerje  man  loned  him  trolje, 

472   of  his  companje  all  folke  were  glad ; 

indeed,  noe  other  cause  they  had, 

the  child  was  gentle  &  bold. 


>  MS.  shee.— F.    And.— Ca. 

*  bestadde. — Cop. 

•  skell. — Ck>p.     reason. — F. 


*  nnrtnre. — ^P.    nortore. — Cop. 

*  Sche  t4%h yd  hur  sone  for  to  inrrke, 
And  taght  hym  eryr  newe.— Ca. 


eia  TiiAHOMi. 

Now  (^  the  Queen«  let  weo  bee, 
471    &  ttt  tlie  gnjfaonnd  speaks  wee 
Oat  I  «nt  of  told. 


long  7  jeeraa,  aoe  god  me  Bane,  S3^"* 

he  did  keepe  liU  Huten  gnoe,  ^''**' 
MO        tiD  Umt  hee  waxed  old ; 

this  Onj^Mond  Sir  Roger  kept  >  long,  Ki^^Sy 
A  bron^t  him  vp  lith  he  waa  y onnge,  °^ 

in  atorj  aa  it  is  told  ; 

«•«    therftre  he  kept  aoe  there 
fiir  the  *  space  of  7  jeere, 

St  goe  from  him  he  ne  wold. 
ea«r  vpon  his  'Uatl«n  grane  he  lay, 
4M    there  might  noe  man  hane  him  away  Tm  bmi 

fcr  heat  neither  for  cold,  tvm'^i  uiicnn. 

wtthoBt  it  were  once  ft  day  aMt« 

he  nn  abont  to  gett  his  prey  *  to  Kt  food. 

4n  of  beasts  that  were  bold, 

conyes,  wfaon  he  can  them  gctt ; 
thns  wold  he  Ubor  for  his  mcate, 
yctt  great  bnngar  be  bad  in  bow.* 

4M     A  7  ycvres  he  dwelled  there, 
till  it*  beffell  uu  that  yoens, 

enen  on  chriitmsMe  day,  OHChHrt- 

the  gnty-hiiDDil  (as  the  story  saycs)  tbituand 

MO    came  to  the  Ki'n^  palace"  g«ia 

without  any*  delay.  pSCn!^' 


•  kad  k«pto.— C<ip.  '  boUf.-Cop.    Uor.  r 

■  fOft. — Cop.  *  p«J«ji«».— Cup. 


98 


SIR  TRIAMORE. 


csnuotflod 
what  he 


and  goes 
UcktoSir 
Roger's 
grave. 


Amdae 


thinks  he 
has  seen  the 
dog  before. 


Next  day 


thehonnd 
retoms, 


but  cannot 

find 

Marrock. 


Arradassays 
it  is  Sir 
Roger's  dog, 

and  perhaps 
the  Qneen 
has  come 
back ; 


when  tliej  Lore^  were  ^  sett  at  meate,  BOone 
tlie  grajhotmd  into  the  hall  ninn 
504        amonge  the  knights  gay ; 

all  abont  he  can  behold, 

but  he  see  not  what  hee  wold ; 

then  went  he  his  way  fall  right 
508    when  he  had  sought  &  cold  not  find ; 
AMI  gentlye  he  did  his  kind, 

speed  better  when  he  might. 

the  grajhound  ran  forth  his  way 
512    till  he  came  where  his  'Master  Lay, 
as  fast  as  ener  he  mought. 
the  king  maraeiled  at  that  deed, 
from  whence  he  went,  A  whither  he  yeed, 
516        or  who  liim  thither  brought. 

the  King  thonght  he  had  seene  him  ere, 
but  he  wist  not  well  where, 
thorfor  he  said  right  nought. 
520   soone  he  bethought  him  then 
that  he  did  him  erst  ken, 

&  ^  still  stay  d  .in  that  thought. 

the  other  day,  in  the  same  wise, 
524   when  the  King  shold  from  his  meate  rise, 
the  Grayhound  came  in  thoe  ; 
all  about  there  he  sought, 
but  the  steward  found  he  nought ; 
528       then  againe  he  began  to  goe. 

the[n]  sayd  the  King  in  tJiat  stond, 
"  methinkes  it  is  Str  Rogers  hound 

that  went  forth  with  the  Queene ; 
532    I  trow  they  be  come  againe  to  this  land. 
Lordfs,  all  this  I  ynderstand, 

it  may  right  well  soe  bee ; 


1  The  first  e  is  made  oyer  an  A  in  the  MS. — ^F. 


*  sate  styll  in  a. — Oop. 


SIR  TRIAHOBE. 


99 


*'  if  that  thej  be  into  this  Land  come, 
596   we  shall  haae  word  therof  soone 
&  within  short  space ; 
for  neoer  since  th6  went  I-wisse 
I  saw  not  the  gray  honnd  ere  this ; 
540       it  is  a  mameilons  case ! 


"  when  he  cometh  againe,  follow  him^ 
fo[r]  euermore  he  will  mn  * 

to  his  "MasterB  dwelling  place  ; 
544   ran  &  goe,  looke  je  not  spare, 
till  that  jee  come  there 

to  Sir  Rodger  &  mj  Qneene." 


when  the 
dogoomes 
agidn,  ■oma 
lordBareto 
follow  him 


to  Sir  Roger 
and  the 
Qaeen. 


then  the  3f  day,  amonge  them  all 
548    the  grajhound  came  into  the  hall, 
to  meate  ere  th6  were  '  sett. 
Marrocke  the  steward  was  within, 
the  grajhonnd  thought  he  wold  not  blin 
552       till  he  with  him  had  mett ; 


Next  day 
the  dog 
oomes  again, 


finds 
Manock, 


he  tooke  the  steward  by  the  throte, 
&  assnnder  he  it  bote  ' ; 

but  then  he  wold  not  byde, 
556    for  to  his  graue  he  rann. 

there  foUolwed  him  many  a  man, 

some  on  horsse,  some  beside  ; 


and 

bitefhim 
throngh  the 
throat. 


Men  follow 
the  dog 


&  when  he  came  where  his  Master  was, 
560    he  Lajd  him  downe  beside  the  grasse 

And  barked  at  the  men  againe.  [page  2i8] 

there  might  noe  man  him  from  the  place  gett, 
&  yett  with  staues  the  did  him  beate, 
564        that  he  was  almost  slaiiie. 


to  Sir  Roger's 
grave, 


which  he  will 
not  quit. 


'  renne. — Cop. 

•  werere,  in  the  MS. — F. 


>  MS.  o  over  a  y. — ^F.    The  hoviid 
wrekyd  hys  maystyn  dethe. — Ca. 


h2 


i'>: 


,-^  -_iac 
rr-.rit  Mm 


^  -wh^iL  'Jue  mtsiL  w^w  zee 

zh^jL  ini*  auiiL  jsei  icme  cm  borsne  4  footse, 

I  ir^w  Sr  3LhS!r:<ks  hash  Sir 

A  wihiL  treft^oc  duDcd  *  bit  Qaecne. 


St  iriwrt  % 


^  z>>s  Tee  ^  seitke  there 
S7±    f:?  line  b-XEZifis  ILj^'fr  thefe 
»:;=e  treasocL  tbere  faatli 
thither  ther  went,  see  god 
A  fc-ond  S^'r  Boser  in  his 
5T«        for  :a.3S 


rbo  v«rfH, 


tnacberj. 


^  there  they  looked  him  there  vpon, 
for  he  WAS  hole  hoth  flesh  &  hone, 

&  to  the  court  his  hody  they  hronght. 
SSO    for  when  the  Kin^  did  him  see, 
the  teares  ran  downe  from  his  eye, 
fall  sore  itt  him  forethought. 

the  grayhonnd  '  he  wold  not  from  his  conrse  '  fare 

584    then  was  the  Kim^/  cast  in  care, 

&  said,  '^  Marroocke  hath  done  me  teene ; 
slaine  he  hath  a  corteoas  Knight, 
&  fained  *  mj  Qneene  with  great  ynright, 

588        as  a  traitor  keene." 


and  hADgid. 


the  King  let  draw  anon-right 
the  stewards  bodje,  that  false  Knighty 
w/th  liorsse  through  the  to¥me ; 
592    then  he  hanged  him  on  a  tree, 
thai  all  men  might  his  body  see, 
that  he  had  done  treason. 


'  defumod. — F.     flcmcd.— Cop. 
*  grehound.— Cop. 
■  corse. — Cop. 


*  far  famed,   defamed.— F.     flemjri 
-Ca.    flemed. — Cop. 


gJM  TSUIIOU. 

r  Roff-T-i  Bclv  ^  next  day 
SM    Ibe  Km;  biuTed  in  good  amy, 
with  muij  m  bold  buon.> 

the  Otkfhovnd  ma  nmur  ftmy 
bj  B^flit  Bor  jet  bgr  Amy, 
mm        b«t  on  tha  gnrnnd  ha  did  dje. 
the  Km;  did  Mnd  hii  meaaengtm 
m  fluryv  pbo0  br  A  neera 
after  the  Qncene  b)  apTe; 
«M     b«t  tor  ongfat  b«  eold  emjuite, 

W  eold  oT  Oat  lAd  je  notlung  beue ; 
tlwr&n  the  Km;  wm  •orrye.' 

the  Kimg  Myd,  **  I  trow  noe  feed, 
tm     ferwdllwottiAatmheeiadMd; 
lldye! 


hisfi 

thia  KiH^  lined  in  gnat  aorrow 
both  cnening  A  morrow 

till  ikat  bc«  were  brooght  to  groond. 
•IS     b«  lined  tbns  maaj  a  ycere 

with  moortiing  A  with  enill  cheere, 
■  lasted  long: 


h  ett^r  it  did  bim  gnat  paine 

wbm  bee  did  thinke  bow  Sir  Boger  waa  all 

ft  bow  belped  bim  bia  hoond  ; 
ft  of  bia  Q-^oM  Ikat  waa  aoe  Myldc, 
bow  abce  went  from  him  gnst  w>(b  child ; 

fur  woe  tbcn  did  Ik«  aooDd.' 


It  pnmlr  (1 


102 


SIR  TBIAMOBE. 


Hemuunui 


aadiiBadftt 
heart. 


Triamore 
isfonrteen, 


long  time  thus  lined  tlie  King 
in  great  sorrow  &  Monming, 
&  oftcntime  did  weepe ; 
628   he  tooke  great  thonght  more  &  more, 
It  made  his  hart  verrye  sore, 
his  sighs  were  sett  soe  deepe. 

now  of  the  King  wee  will  bline, 
682    &  of  the  Qneene  let  ys  begin, 
&  Sir  '  Tryamore ; 
for  when  he  was  14  yeere  old, 
there  was  noe  man  soe  bold 
€36       durst  doe  him  dishonor  ' ; 


[page  2191 


itroxigi 
and  tall, 


and  wdl* 
doing. 


in  enerye  time  ^  both  stout  &  stronge, 
&  in  stature  large  &  longe, 

comlye  of  hye  color ; 
640   all  that  euer  he  dwelled  amonge, 
he  neuer  did  none  of  them  wronge, 

the  more  that  was  his  honor. 


The  King  of 

Hungary 

dies, 

leaving  only 
a  danghter, 
fair  Helen, 
of  fourteen, 


in  that  time  sikerlye 
644   dyed  the  King  of  Hungarye  * 

that  was  of  great  age  I-wiss  * ; 
he  had  no  heire  his  land  to  hold 
but  a  daughter  was  14  ycers  old  * ; 
648       faire  [Hellen  ^j  shee  named  is. 


white  88  a 
lily. 


shee  was  as  white  as  lilye*  flower, 
&  comely,  of  gay  color, 
the  fairest  of  any  towne  or  tower ; 


•  her  Sonne. — Cop. 

«  dysshonoure. — Cop. 

•  ]jmme. — Cop. 

•  Hungry. — Cop. 

•  The  second  s  is  made  orer  an  e 
the  MS.— F. 

•  of  vy .  yeiys  elde.— Ca. 


in 


»  See  L  776.  Hellene,  L 1687  below.— 
F.  Her  name  Helyne  ys. — Ca.  Elyne. 
— Cop. 

*  The  top  of  a  long  s  whose  bottom  is 
marked  through,  is  left  in  the  MS.  before 
the  first  /.—F. 


SIR  TBIAHORE. 


103 


652   sliee  was  well  shapen  of  foote  &  hand, 
peere  sliee  had  none  in  noe  land, 
Bhee  was  soe  fresh  &  soe  amorous. 


for  when  her  father  was  dead, 
656    great  warr  began  to  spread 
in  that  land  about ; 
then  the  Ladyes  conncell  gan  her  reade, 
'  gett  her  a  lord  her  land  to  lead, 
660       to  mle  the  realme  without  doubt ; 
some  mightye  prince  that  well  might 
rule  her  land  with  reason  &  right, 
that  all  men  to  him  might  Lout/ 


Her  land  li 
inTAded; 


heroonndl 
tell  her  to 
mury  a 
lord  to 
protect  her. 


664  &  when  her  conncell  had  sajd  soe, 
for  great  need  shee  had  therto, 

shee  graunted  them  without  Lye : 
the  Lady  said,  '*  I  will  not  feare 

665  but  he  [be]  prince  or  princes  peere, 

&  cheefe  of  all  chiualrye." 


SheconaentSi 


therto  shee  did  consent, 
&  gaue  her  Lords  comTnandement 
672        a  great  lusting  for  to  crye ; 
&  at  the  lustine,  shold  soe  bee, 
what  man  that  shold  win  the  degree,* 
shold  win  that  Ladye  trulye. 

676    the  day  of  lusting  then  was  sett, 
halfe  a  yeere  without  lett, 
without  any  more  delay, 
because  the  might  haue  good  space, 
680    Lords,  knights,  dukes,  in  euerye  place, 
for  to  be  there  that  day. 


proclaims  a 
jousting, 


the  winner 
at  which 
shall  win  her 
too. 


The  day  18 
fixed. 


'  Fr.  AjTT^,  a  degree,  ranke,  or  place  of  honour.     Cotgraye. — F. 


104 


TUAXORE. 


lonls 


to 


OOUODd. 


Tiiamom 
bean  of  the 
jooating. 

aadreaidTvt 
to  go  to  it. 


Nit  be  has  no 
home  or 
arms. 


Lords,  the  best  in  entire  Lftnd, 
hard  tell  of  that  ijdand, 
684        &  made  them  leadje  fnll  gay ; 
of  euetye  land  there  was  the  best,* 
of  the  States  that  were  honest ' 
attyred  '  many  a  Ladj  gay. 

6S8   great  was  that  chinabye 

that  came  that  time  to  Hcicgabte, 

there  for  to  Inst  with  might, 
at  last  Trumore  hard  tyding 
692   that  there  shold  be  a  lasting ; 
thither  wold  he  wend. 

if  he  wist  that  he  might  gaine 
with  all  his  might,  he  wold  be  home  ^ 
696        that  gay  Ladye  for  to  win  ; 

hee  had  noe  horsse  nay  noe  other  geere, 
Nor  noe  weapon  with  him  to  beare ; 
that  brake  his  hart  in  twaine. 


Cpage2S0] 


HeafdnSir 
Bernard  to 
lend  him 
some, 


and  the 
knight  tella 
him  he 
knows  no- 
thing abont 
It. 

TriAmore 
asks  to 
be  tried. 


700   he  thought  both  enen  &  morrow 

where  he  might  some  armonr  borrowe, 

therof  wold  hee  be  faine 
to  Sir  Barnard  then  he  can  wend,^ 
704    that  he  wold  armonr  lend  ^ 

to  iost  against  the  knights  amaine.^ 

then  said  Sir  Barnard,  ''  what  hast  thon  thonght  ? 
pardew  !  of  iosting  ihon  canst  nought ! 
708        for  yee  bee  not  able  wepon  to  weld." 
"  Sir,"  said  Triamore,  "  what  wott  yee 
of  what  strenght  that  I  bee 
till  I  bane  assayd  in  feeld  ?  " 


*  bcstee. — Cop. 

*  moost  honasty. — Cop. 

■  drcsBfd  herself:  parallel  to  1.  684. 
States  may  mean  **  nobles.*' — F. 


*  He  wolde  pturej  hym  fiille  &yne. 
— Ca. 

•  mene. — Cop. 


lene. — Cop. 


of  msyiie. — Cop. 


SIB  thiamore. 


105 


712     then  Sir  Baroard  that  was  Ml  hend, 
-     said,  "  Triamob,  if  thow  wilt  wend, 
thon  shalt  lacke  noe  weed ; 
I  will  lend  thee  all  my  geere, 
716     horsse  &  hameis,  sheild  &  spere, 
thon  art  nothing  ^  to  dread ; 


Sir  Bernard 
then  prom- 
ises to  lend 


himfaorae 
andamui. 


*'  alsoe  thither  with  thee  will  I  ryde, 
&  ener  nye  be  by  thy  side 
'20         to  helpe  thee  if  thon  hane  need  ; 
all  things  that  thow  wilt  hane, 
gold  &  silner,  if  thow  wilt  crane, 
thy  lonmey  for  to  speed." 


go  with  him. 


and  provide 
him  money. 


724     then  was  Triamore  glad  &  light, 

&  thanked  Barnard  with  all  his  might 

of  his  great  proferinge. 
that  day  the  Insting  shold  bee, 
728     Triamore  sett  him  on  his  knee 
&  asked  his  mother  blessinge. 

at  home  shee  wold  hane  kept  him  faine  ; 
bnt  all  her  labor  was  in  vaine, 
732         there  might  be  noe  letting, 
shee  saw  it  wold  noe  better  bee, 
her  blessing  shee  gane  him  verelye 
w[i]th  fnll  sore  weepinge. 


On  the  day 
of  the  joust, 

Triamore 
asks  his 
mother's 
bleasing. 


and  she  gives 
it  him 
sorrowfully. 


736     &  when  it  was  on  the  Morrow  day, 
Triamore  was  in  good  array, 

armed  &  well  dight ; 
when  he  was  sett  on  his  steed, 
740     he  was  a  man  both  *  lenght  &  bread,' 
&  goodlye  in  mans  sight. 


In  the 

morning, 

Triamore 


*  nothenge. — Cop. 


*  in. — Cop. 


•  brede. — Cop. 


106 


8IR  TRIAMOBE. 


starts  with 
Sir  Bernard. 


then  Tbiamore  to  the  feeld  can  ryde, 
&  Sir  Barnard  by  his  side ; 
744        they  were  locnnd  &  light ; 
there  was  none  in  all  the  feild 
that  was  more  seemlye  vnder  sheild ; 
he  rode  fhll  like  a  knight. 


Qneen  Helen 
of  Hungary 
looks  from  a 
turret 


on  the  gay 
scene  of 


748    then  was  the  faire  Lady  sett 
fhll  hye  vppon  a  turrett,* 
for  to  behold  that  play ; 
there  was  many  a  seemlye  Knight, 
752    princes,  Lords,  &  dukes  of  Might, 
themselnes  for  to  assay, 


hehned 
knights. 


Triaxnore 


With  helme  on  theire  heads  bright 
that  all  the  feelds  shone  wtth  lights 
756        they  were  soe  stont  &  gay : 
then  Sir  tbiamore  &  Sir  Barnard 
th6  pressed  them  into  the  feeld  forward,* 
there  durst  noe  man  say  nay. 


happens  to 
choora  his 
father,  King 
Arradas's 
side. 


760   there  was  much  price  '  &  pride 

when  euerye  man  to  other  can  ryde, 

&  lords  of  great  renowne  ; 
it  beffell  triamore  that  tyde 
764   for  to  be  on  his  fathers  side, 
the  King  of  Arragon. 


A  big  Lom- 
bard lord 
rides  forth ; 


Triamore 
throws  Mm, 


the  first  tJiat  rode  forth  certainlye 
was  a  great  Lord  of  Lumbardye, 
768        a  wonderMl  bold  Barron. 
Trumor  rode  him  againe : 
for  all  that  lord  had  Might  &  maine, 
the  child  bare  him  downe. 


[page  331 


*  Hye  up  in  a  garett. — Ca. 


•  warde. — Cop. 


■  preas.— Oop. 


SIB  TRIAMORE. 


107 


772    ^  then  ciyed  Sur  Barnard  with  honor, 

"A  TBIAMOB,  a  TBIAMOBE  !  " 

for  men  shold  him  ken. 
Mayd  Hellen  '  that  was  soe  mild, 
776   more  shee  beheld  tbiahobe  the  child 
then  all  the  other  men. 


and  Sir 
Bernard 
shouts  **A 
Triamore" 
to  mako  him 
Iniown. 
Qneen  Helen 
TiewB  him 
with  faToor. 


then  the  Kings  sonne  of  Nanarme  ' 
wold  not  his  body  wame  * ; 
780        he  pricked  forth  on  the  plaine. 
then  yonng  Triamore  that  was  stout, 
tamed  himselfe  ronnd  about, 
&  fast  rode  him  againe ; 


The  Prince 
of  Navame 


rides  out; 
Triamore 

charges  him; 


784    soe  neither  of  them  were  to  ground  cast,* 
they  sate  soe  wonderous  fast, 

like  men  of  much  might, 
then  came  forth  a  Bachelour,* 
788   a  prince  proud  without  peere ; 

Str  lames,  forsooth,  he  hight ; 


neither  is 
thrown. 


Sir  James  of 
Almaigne 


he  was  the  Emperours  sonne  of  Almaigne  ^ ; 
he  rode  Sir  triamore  *  againe, 
792        With  hard  strenght  to  fight. 

Sir  lames  had  such  a  stroake  indeed 
that  he  was  tumbled  from  his  steed  ; 
then  failed  all  his  might. 
796    there  men  might  see  swords  brast, 
helmes  ne  sheUds  might  not  last; 
&  thus  it  dured  till  night ; 


next  charges 
Triamore, 


and  is  un- 
horsed. 


The  joust 
lasts 


till  night. 


*  Ca.  pats  this  stanza  after  the  next. 
-F. 

*  Elyne. — Cop. 

■  Armouy. — Ca.    Naueme. — Cop. 

*  A.-S.  immian,  to  take  care  of,  beware. 
-F. 


•  Ca.  makes  Triamore  bear  him  down, 
and  transfers  this  to  Sir  James  in 
the  next  stanza. — F. 

•  batchelere. — Cop. 
^  Almaine.— Cop. 

•  ?  MS.  Triamoir.— F. 


108 


SIR  TRIAIIORE. 


Next  day. 


it  begins 
■gain* 


and  the 
knigbu 
charge 
lleradj. 


lOng 
Arradas 


is  thrown  by 
his  son 
Triamore, 


who  also 
vanquishes 
8tr  James. 


Qaeen  Helen 
falls  in  love 
with 
Triamorc. 


bat  when  the  smi  drew  neere '  west, 
800   and  all  the  Lords  went  to  rerst, 
[Not  so  the  maide  Elyne.*] 
the  Kiii'<7//ts  attired  them  in  good  arraje, 
on  steeds  great,  with  trappers  *  gaye, 
before  the  sun  can  ^  shine ; 

804    then  to  the  feeld  th^  pricked  prest, 
&  euerje  man  thought  himselfe  best 
[As  the  mayden  faire  they  paste.'] 
then  they  feirclye  ran  together, 
great  speres  in  peeces  did  shimmer,^ 

808        their  timber  might  not  last. 

&  at  thai  time  there  did  run^ 
the  King  Arradas  of  Arragon : 

his  Sonne  Triiamore  mett  him  in  that  tyde, 
812    &  gaue  his  father  such  a  rebound 
that  harse  &  man  fell  to  the  ground,^ 

soe  stoutlye  gan  he  ryde. 

then  the  next  K,night  that  hee  mett 
816   was  Sir  lames ;  A  such  a  stroake  him  sett 
Tpon  the  sheild  ther  on  the  plaine 
that  the  blood  brast  out  at  his  nose  &  eares, 
his  steed  vnto  the  ground  him  beares ; 
820        then  was  Sir  Barnard  faine. 

that  Maid  of  great  honor 

sett  her  loue  on  younge  tbiamobe 

that  fought  alwayes  as  a  feirce  *  Lyon. 


*  ferre. — Cop. 

*  This  line  is  from  Copland's  text.-  -H. 

*  The  trappings  of  horses.    Halliwell. 
— F. 

*  gan. — Cop. 

*  shjuer.— Cop. 

*  dyde  ronne. — Cop. 

'  Tryamore  must  bo  supposed  to  haye 
changed  since   the  first  day,  when   he 


was  on  his  father^s  side :  see  L  763.  In 
1.  920,  Arradas  is  accused  of  killing  the 
Emperor's  son,  whom  Triamore  slays 
(1.  860-1 ),  but  he  (Arradas)  declares  he 
had  nothing  to  do  with  it,  1.  974-9.  He 
only  rescues  his  son  from  the  Empeioi^s 
men,  1.  866-7.— F. 
•  fyers. — Cop. 


SIR  nUMOBt.- 

i|M>rM  M,il  .Uy  msny  were  spent,' 
A  wtUi  Birorda  tiiere  wsa  nuuij  a  rtripe  lent, 
tOl  tbo[ra}  fitOed  light  of  the  num. 

on  thelloTTOW  til  they  were  ftine 

■M    fbr  to  cmoe  into  the  (aid  agaiae 
with  great  spere  &  aheild. 
then  the  Duke  of  SiniUe,  Sir  Pliylar,' 
tkaX  waa  a  dough^e  knight  in  eturye  waiT, 

•n        ha  tode  fint  into  the  feild ; 

A  Triamore  tooke  hta  apere, 
against  the  Duke  he  can  it  beare, 

&  amote  him  in  the  §heild ;  •■«  hw 

•M    fcawTwler  in  2  peeoee  it  went ; 

A  then  many  a  kmelye  Lady  gent, 

fan  wdl  they  him  beheld. 

theo  came  forth  a  Ka^At  Ikat  hight  Terrey,      Bbitonr 
MO    heewaaagiMiLordofSDrray,*  ts^tm  ""r^ 

he  thonght  Noble  Tbumobb  to  assayle ;  cbwis 

A  Tbumore  rode  to  bim  blithe  Triuwt*, 

in  alt  the  utrcnght  that  he  might  drinc, 
BM         be  thonght  he  wold  not  faylc  ; 

he  imote  bim  «oe  in  (Ant  Htoud 

that  horase  A  man  fell  to  the  groand,^  ud|M< 

KM  Bore  hiji  stroke  he  sett. 

a«a     then  dnrat  noo  man  att  trunobe  [ride.'J  KoowriH 

tor  fortune  held  all  on  his  side  TiiuHni 

all  those  dayea  3.* 

'  ^f—tU,    lir  Arvrra. — C*.      C>cjll.  ■  .  .  .  iIk  ilrakr.  bMb^bDnaod  mui, 

•  Frt«.— Cap.  TurnyJ  topp*  otj  t  U^U.^Ol 

■TW  dMka  «f  LjtbjT,   nr  Tjnr.  '  toTmunouni  171!?.— Cop. 

-C*.  >  Th«  Camlinilte  tost  bUw  Triunon 


no 


8IB   TRIAMORS. 


bntSir 
James 

lies  in  wait 
for  him, 


andnms 
bim  throngfa 
the  thigh, 


Str  lames,  sonne  Tnto  the  Emperonr, 
862   had  enuje  to  Sir  Triamore, 

and  laid  wait  ^  for  him  prinilje. 

att  the  last  Tbiamore  came  ryding  bye. 
Str  lames  said,  ''  Triamore !  thou  shalt  dje, 
856       for  thou  hast  done  me  shame." 
he  rode  to  Triamore  wtth  a  spere, 
&  thorrow  '  the  thigh  he  can  him  beare ; 
he  had  almost  him  slaine. 


for  which 
Triamore 
kills  him, 


bnt  is  beset 
by  his  men. 


860   bnt  Trjumore  hitt  him  in  *  the  head 
that  he  fell  downe  starke  dead. 

then  was  all  his  men  woe ; 
then  wold  they  hane  slaine  Tiyamore 
864   without  he  had  had  great  succour  *  ; 
they  purposed  to  doe  soe. 


Arradas 

rescaes 

Triamore, 


and  Sir 
Bernard 


takes  him 
home. 

His  mother 


sends  for  a 
doctor. 
The  jousting 
knights 
ride  to 
Queen  Helen 


With  that  came  Kmg  Arradas  ^  then, 
&  reschued  Tryamore  with  all  his  men, 
868        that  stood  in  great  doubt, 
then  Str  Barnard  was  full  woe 
that  Tryamore  was  hurt  soe  ; 

then  to  his  owne  house  he  him  brought. 

872    but  when  the  Mother  saw  her  sonns  wound, 
shee  fell  downe  for  sorrow  to  the  ground, 

&  after  a  Leeche  shee  sent, 
of  ^  this,  all  the  Lords  thai  were  ^  lustinge, 
876    to  the  pallace  ®  made  highinge,* 
&  to  that  Ladye  went. 


serre  '*  the  dewke  of  Aymere  "  as  he  seired 
Terrey,  and  shiver  the  shield  and  spear  of 
James  of  Almayne,  p.  28-9  Percy  Soe 
ed.— F. 

'  layde  wayte. — Cop. 

^  tlu^)ughe. — Cop. 

•  hytt  hym  on.--Cop. 


•  the  greter  Boeonre. — Cop. 

•  Arragus. — Cop. 

•  on  or  after. — r. 

•  was  at — Cop. 

•  pallayes. — Cop. 

•  hyenge. — Cop. 


SIR  TBIAMORE. 


Ill 


truly,  as  the  story  sayes, 
ih6  ^  pricked  forth  to  the  pallace 
8S0       the  Ladyes  will  to  heare, 
Bachelonrs  &  kn^^ts  prest, 
that  shee  might  choose  of  them  the  best 
w^ich  to  her  &yiiest  were. 


to  hear 


wbom  she 
willchooee. 


884   the  Ladye  beheld  all  that  fayre  Meanye, 
but  Tryamore  shee  cold  not  see  t 

tho  channged  all  her  cheere, 
then  *  shee  sayd  "  hord,  where  is  hee  • 
888    that  euarye  day  wan  the  degree  P 
I  chnse  him  to  my  peere.*  " 

al  about  *  th6  Tryamore  sought ; 
he  was  ryddn  home ;  th6  found  him  nought ; 
892       then  was  that  Ladye  woe. 

the  Knt^^ts  were  afore  her  brought, 
&  of  respite  shee  them  besought, 
a  yeare  &  noe  more : 

896   shee  said,  "  Lords,  soe  god  me  sane  ! 
he  that  wan  me,  he  shall  me  haue ; 

ye  wot  well  that  my  cry  was  soe." 
the  all  consented  her  vntill, 
900    for  shee  *  said  Nothuig  ill, 
the  said  it  shold  be  soe. 


She  chooses 
Triaxnore. 
Where  is  he? 


He  can't  bo 
foand, 


so  Helen 
ask«  for  a 
year's  delay, 


for  when  they  had  all  sayd, 
then  answered  that  fayre  Mayd, 
904        "  I  will  haue  none  but  Tryamore.'* 
then  all  the  horda  that  were  present 
tooke  their  Leaue,  &  home  went ; 
there  wan  th6  litle  honor. 


she  will  have 
none  bat 
Triamore. 


'  they. — Cop. 

•  The— Cop. 

•  he. — Cop. 


•  fere. — Cop. 

•  All  aboute. — Cop. 

•  had  inserted, — Cop. 


112 


SIB   TBIAMOBE. 


Sir  James's 
men  carry 
his  corpse 


to  his  father, 
the  Emperor, 


and  tell  him 

that 

Triamore 


908    Sir  James  men  were  nothing  fiune 
because  their  'Miaster,  he  was  slaine, 

That  was  soe  stout  in  stowre ;  [page  233] 

in  chaire  his  body  the  Lajd, 
912    Sd  led  him  home,  as  I  haue  sajd, 
vnto  his  father  the  Emperour ; 

&  when  that  hee  his  sonne  gan  see, 
a  sorrye  man  then  was  hee, 
916        &  asked  *  who  had  done  that  dishonor  ^  ?  ' 
th6  sayd  **  wee  [ne]  wott  who  it  is  I-wisse,* 
but  Sir  Tryamore  he  named  is, 
soe  th6  called  him  '  in  the  crye ; 


and  Arradas 

killed  his 
son. 


The  Emperor 

vows 

revenge, 


mimmons  a 
host, 


and  invades 
Arragon. 


920    **  the  King  of  Arragon  alsoe, 
he  helped  thy  ^  sonne  to  sloe, 

with  all  his  companye." 
they  said,  "  th6  be  good  warryoirs  ; 
924    they  byte  *  vs  with  sharpe  showers  * 
with  great  villanye.^  " 

"  Alas  !  **  said  the  Emperour, 
"  till  I  be  reuenged  on  t?iat  traytour, 
928       now  shall  I  neuer  cease ! 

the  shall  haue  many  a  sharpe  shower, 
both  the  King  &  Tryamore, 
they  shall  neuer  haue  peace  !  " 

932    the  Emperour  sayd  th6  shold  repent ; 
Sd  after  great  companye  he  sent 

of  princes  bold  in  presse, 
Dukes,  Earles,  &  lords  of  price.® 
936    With  a  great  armye,  the  Duke  sayes, 
the  yeed  to  Arragon  without  lesse. 


•  dysshonour. — Cop. 

•  has  ywys. — Cop. 

•  called  the  him. — Cop. 

•  MS.  the.— F. 


*  bete. — Cop. 

•  shoutes. — Cop. 

*  vilany. — Cop. 

•  pryse. — Cop. 


sia  TBUJfoic  113 

Kiwjr  AttwIm'  wm  K-drMd  ■  Atni« 

for  the  Emperoor  nch  power  had, 
urn         Unit  b*UtB  hee  wold  Iiim  bid  * ; 
he  lew  hia  bmd  n^  oner-gon, 

A  to  »  cMtle  hee  fledd  uion,  hu omSI 

A  TiotuDB*  it  for  dned. 

M4    *ttte  Bimwuia  «u  bold  &  stoat,  wfena* 

A  beeeeged  the  cntle  aboot ;  S^bub, 

hie*  benaerhe  began  to  ipieed, 
A  afn^  hie  boct  fall  WieU  &  wiaeljB, 
tM    with  wepona  atrong  it  mightje 

he  thoosfat  to  make  them  draad. 

th«  Anperottr  wae  bold  A  stoat, 
A  beeeeged  the  castle  aboat, 
Wt         A  his  baraier  he  gan  to  spread ; 

ha  gMie  aaniolt '  to  the  hold.  aas  ihbiu 

Eiaf  Anradae  was  stoat  A  bold,  ""*■' 

ordaynad  him  taH  welL* 

Me    with  gnnea  &  great  stooea  roond  iwud 

were  throwne  downe  to  the  grooad, 

A  on  the  men  were  cast ;  « tk> 

the;  brake  many  backee  &.  bones, 
MA    l&ot  tfaejr  fought  eaeryc[da;*]  ones 

while  7  weekes  did  !aat.  iS^"™" 

the  Emperoar  was  hart  ill  thcrfore, 
his  men  were  hurt  sore, 
M4        all  his  Icy  was  past. 

Anoa.—CoB.  *  A  Irirer  likr  (.  Ktmii^lj  blatdwd 

'  ■'Aadd^— CDp.  ool.  prPcniM  *w  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  iryiAr.—Cop.  '  >imII«.— Cop. 

*  rnajlUd.— Cof.    nrtaylTd.— Cl  *  And  drfrodjpd  hjm  Ml  fa«t«. — Ca. 

*  »■    Msaat,    vhiefa    iiiiniii    inper-  Ami  oidfird  it  fall  mil*.    Bsslinna 
■■'•■■•  MR  (P»n7  Sot.  p.  81).— F. 

•  day.— Co|<. 


114 


SIB   TRIAHORE. 


ArradaR 


Bends  to 
the  Emperor 


to  say  that 
be  did  not 
day  his  son. 


and  to 
propose  a 
settlement 
of  their 
qnarrel  by 
ringle 
combat; 


if  the 
Emperor's 
knight  winH 


Arradas  will 
give  in; 


if  Arradas's 
knight  wins, 


King  Arradas  thought  full  longe 
that  hee  was  beseeged  soe  stronge, 
With  soe  much  might  &  maine  : 

968     2  Lords  forth  a  Message  he  sent, 

&  straight  to  the  Emperour  th6  '  went. 

soe  when  they  cold  him  see, 
of  peace  *  they  can  him  pray,* 
972     to  take  truce  ^  till  a  certaine  day. 

th6  kneeled  downe  on  their  knee, 

&  said,  "  our  King  sendeth  word  to  thee 
that  he  neuer  yoi^r  sonne  did  slay,* 
976         soe  he  wold  quitt  him  &ine ; 
he  was  not  then  present, 
nor  did  noe  wise  •  consent 
that  jcytiT  Sonne  was  slaine. 
980    That  [he]  will  proue,  if  you  will  soe, 
yowr  selfe  and  he  betweene  you  tow, 
if  you  will  it  sayne ; 

"  or  else  take  jour  selfe  a  Knight^ 
984     &  he  will  gett  another  to  fight 
on  a  certaine  day : 
if  that  yowr  Knight  hap  soe 
ours  for  to  discomfort  or  sloe, 
988        as  by  fortune  itt  may, 

our  King  then  will  doe  yowr  will, 
be  att  your  bidding  lowde  &  still 
without  more  delay ; 

992     **  &  alsoe  if  it  you  beiyde 

that  jouT  knight  on  yowr  sydo 
be  slaine  by  Mischance, 


[pageW 


*  y». — Cop.  '  peas. — Cop. 

'  Only  the  long  part  of  the  y  is  in  the 


MS.— F. 


•  treaes. — Cop. 

•  sle. — Cop. 

•  noc  wise  did. — C<q3. 


nB   TBIAMOBK.  110 

Mj  Lnnl  nluiU  m&ke  your  warr  to  oeue,'  u*  m^x* 

[Mtd  ire  Blid]  after  be  at  peue,*]  kk^v. 

tM         withont  anj  distance.*  " 

the  Emperour  nid  *  without  fajle  Tb« 

"aettadayof  BatteU  wm. 
bj  aasent  of  tlie  'Kiny  of  franco ; " 

■ODO    tor  he  had  a  great  Campiowne,'  ■■  la  ^  a 

in  euerjre  reabne  he  wan  *  renowns  ;  it«M|iiii« 
•oe  the  Empenmr  ceased  his  distance. 

when  peace  was  made,  &  buce  came,' 

I0O4     then  King  Arradas  were  '  a  lojfbll  man,  tn^im 
A  trusted  mto  Tiyamora. 

8oe  after  him  he  went  without  (ayle,  imiii  iu 

for  to  doe  the  gnat  batteUe  u%hitor 

leoa        to  his  heipe  ft  eacconr.  ^'^ 

hia  Me— engers  were  oome  &  gone,  b«  ■»  ^ 

tjdings  of  him  hard  *  th^  none.  um. 

the  Kilty  Arradas  thonght  him  long, 
iDit     "&  he  be  dead,  I  may  say  alu) ! 

who  shall  then  fight  with  MftrradaiH 

Ihitt  is  soe  stoat  A  strongc  P  " 

when  Tryamore  was  whole  '"  &  sound,  Triuwn 

lei*     &  well  healed  of  his  wound,  ^^ 

he  busked  him  for  to  fare ; 

'  v«*  —  Ci5>.  it  ■■  not  vintil,  uid  the  Caabridfp  text 

*  T^nlia*  ■  ftTaCoplsB(l'i(''iI-  -H.  bat  not  pit  it.— F. 
H-  [•*7>*b  jow  thai  ji-  wjfU  n-**,  '  Cbimpion.    118.  ounpasjt. — F. 

Aul  Ut  DVT*  loodjB  I*  inj-T*.  -C«.  Compnnj.  -Cop. 
■  -  t>ntHMv.  m/yr^    in    I).W>    (W  •  ihr.— Cgp. 

IfT-^M^t     {dunJi^y         IVimploriiun.  '  Irrim  lan«.— Cop. 

fi  ii^tmit.  iMcttoct.     Colsnn. — F.  •  »•«.— Cop. 

'  «•  k»9  tk.  mM  of  Uw  MS.,  tboagh  •  h«nlf .— Cop.  »  bol>.— Cop. 


116 


8IB  TRUMOUE. 


and  Mkihis 
mothfrirho 
hisffttheris. 


HiaiDotha' 
wtU  not  tdl 
him  till  he 


mhei4«ru 
for  Ami!on. 


i>&  hU  w«v 


h«>  M«i«  hi* 
in^'^  hoiuub 
at  a  hart. 


aiul  U 
attai'k«^1  by 
(ourttvi) 
fvu\«t«T«. 


TrtanuMW 

tllrtt  to 

lHk«lfy  them  I 


oihorttheni 
lUl  hU 
nwtwy. 


he  sajd,  "  mother,"  wi'th  mild  cheere, 
**  &  I  wist  what  my  father  were, 
10:20        the  lesse  were  mj  care." 

"  soxme,"  shee  said,  **  thou  shalt  witt ; 
when  ^  thou  hast  Manyed  that  Ladje  sweet, 

thy  father  thou  shalt  ken." 
1024     "  mother,"  he  said,  **  if  you  wiD  [soe,*] 
haue  good  day,  for  now  I  goe 

to  doe  my  Masteiyes  if  I  can.'  " 

then  rode  he  ouer  dale  &  downe 
1028     vntill  he  came  to  Arragon, 
ouer  many  a  weary  way. 

aducntures  many  him  befell, 

&  all  he  scaped  full  well, 
10S2        in  all  his  great  loumey. 

he  saw  many  a  wild  beast 
both  in  heath  A  in  forrest ; 

he  had  good  grey-hounds  8  ; 
1096    then  to  a  hart  he  let  them  run 
till  14  fosters  spyed  him  soone, 

soc  threatened  him  greatlye ; 

they  ycede  to  him  with  weapons  on  euerye  side ; 
1040     it  was  noe  boote  to  bid  them  byde ; 
Tryamore  was  loth  to  flye, 

&  said  vnto  them,  *'  Ix>rc2s,  I  you  pray, 

lett  mo  in  peace  wend  my  way 
1044        to  seeke  my  grayhounds  8." 

then  said  Tryamore  as  in  this  time, 
**  gold  A  siluer,  take  all  mine 

if  ^  Mat  I  haue  tresspassed  ought*" 


»  Whan.— Cop. 


'  and  Bpeke  wyth  my  lemmaii. — Cm. 
«  Of.— Cop. 


SIS  TSUMOKI. 

MM    m  nid,  "  wee  will  meets  witb  thjr  anon, 
thora  ■hall  noe  gold  borrow  tliee  eoone,' 

bat  in  pmoa  thou  shalt  be  bron^t,  tmi  ikcMua 

Sadi  k  the  law  of  the  groiuid ;  ■  u^ 

tma    Whosoener  therin  jdmj  be  found, 
other  mj  goe  th^  nonght." 

tfcoB  S^  Trjanune  waa  fbll  woe  Trlmm 

lAot  to  pviaon  he  ahold  goe ; 
MM         bee  thoa^t  tlie  fieah  to  deare  bought. 
there  w»a  no  more  to  aaj, 

Ae  tortere  att  him  gan  lay  ii  iitiniii 

with  etrokee  stenie  and  atont.  r  i  n    . 

MM    there  Ti7«more  w*th  them  fonght ; 

Bone  to  the  gronnd  be  brought ;  ^a  noa 

he  made  tham  lowe  to  looke ;  t^, 

aome  of  theoi  fikat  gan  pny, 
MM    the  other  fled  bat  Kwmj 

with  woondi  wyde  thai  the;  eonghL* 

TiTamon  eonght  &  found  *  hia  graj-hounds ;  ^^  ^^^ 

he  lM*r{k]ned  to  their  yeming'  Bonnda,  mbouidi 
i<it»        A  thought  not  for  to  leaoo  them  aoe. 
at  bet  he  came  to  a  wat«r  side  ; 

there  he  aaw  the  beast  abjde  ^^ 

/Aat  had  Blaine  2  of  his  grajhouDds  ;  ^■^ 

i«Tl     the  3*  full  sore  troubled  the  hind, 

&  he  hurt  him  with  hiii  triudo  * ;  udt^aiha 

then  was  Tiyamoro  woe. 
if  tlw  battaile  had  lasted  a  while, 
ioT(     the  hart  wold  the  hound  beguile,' 
A  take  hie  life  for  euermore. 

•  >  MA. :  il  BAj  b*  BuMt  tot  fti-m,  ;  •  r  runnlDit.—P. 

b«  im»  atitA*  of  Ih*  ■  ii  miiMiig. — F.  *  Onr  Hn>kr  of  th«  ■■  ii  vanling  io  (ho 

*  TJghl       MS-     fa-  li"  Vym/y*.  LnncbM  «f  Um> 
uiUin.— {■'. 
•  btwl«.-Cup. 


118 


8IB  TRIAMORE. 


Triamore 

kUlatbe 

deer, 

blowBhis 


and  king 
Amdas 
it. 


▲  forester 
nuu  in. 


trils  the  king 
that  his 
kcefKnhave 
been  alain 
by  the 
knight 


Tiyamore  smote  att  the  deere, 
and  ^  to  the  hart  went  the  spere  ; 
1080        then  his  home  he  blew  faH  sore, 
the  K:ing  Lay  there  beside 
at  Mannomr  ^  that  same  tide ; 
he  hard  a  home  blowe ; 

1084    they  had  great  wonder  in  hall, 
both  Kni^^ts,  Sqniers,'  &  all, 

for  noe  man  cold  it  know, 
wtth  that  ran  in  a  foster 
1088    into  the  hall  with  enill  cheere, 
&  was  ftill  sorry,  I  trow. 

the  King  of  tydings  gan  him  firaine ; 
he  answered,  "  Sir  King,  your  Keepers  be  slaine, 
1093        and  lye  dead  on  a  rowe. 

there  came  a  knight  that  was  mightye, 
he  let  3  grayhounds  t?iat  were  wightye, 
&  laid  my  fellowes  ftill  lowe : " 


that  blew 
the  horn. 


Arradassays 
he  wanta 
mich  a  man. 


and  tells 
thnv  knights 
to  fetch  him. 


1096    he  sayd,  it  was  full  tme 

that  the  same  that  the  home  blew 

that  all  this  sorrow  hath  wrought. 
King  Arradas  said  then, 
1 100     '*  I  haue  great  need  of  such  of  a  man ; 
god  hath  him  hither  brought." 

the  King  comT^ianded  Knights  3, 
he  said,  '*  goe  *  feitch  yond  gentleman  to  me 
1104         that  is  now  at  his  play ; 

looke  noe  ill  words  with  him  yee  breake, 
bnt  pray  him  with  me  for  to  speake ; 
I  trow  he  will  not  say  nay." 


>  One  stroke  of  the  n  missiDg  in  the 
MS.— F. 
■  maner. — Cop. 


•  Squiers,  kn^hts. — Cop. 

*  MS.  god:~F. 


MB  TBUlfOBB.  119 

IIM    Baafye  knigfat  hJB  steed  bent,  Ttek^gM* 

A  ligbtlje  to  the  wood '  th^  went 
to  eeeke  Tiyunore  that  child. 

tU  fimid  him  by  &  water  side  m 

lilt    wh«*  he  bnke  the  beut  ■  iAat  tjde, 
Oat  hart  Mat  wm  bob  w/lde. 

thjaud,  "Sw!  god  beat  jom-guoe!"  mimub. 

he  aanrared  than  eoen  the  same ; 
ilic        then  waa  he  tnjd  of  guile. 

"  Bo*  Kmyhi  I "  thej  nud,  "  ia  itt  yow  will  ^S^^ 

to  eotne  A  epaalce  oar  Km^  vntill  ''*  '^^ 

with  word[e>  maeke  A  mylds  P  "       []>■■•  M] 

iiM    Tijamne  aeked  ebortlye,* 

"  what  hight  jowr  Ktnj;,  tell  yee  mee, 

Mat  ia  lord  *  (^  thia  land  P  " 
**  thia  I«Dd  hi^t  Arragon,  iHViw** 

IIM    A  oor  Km0,  Anadaa,  with  crownei 
hia  place  hia  heire  att  hand." 

Tryamore  went  vnto  the  K[i'n<7,]  rausn 

A  be  waa  glad  of  bis  comiogc, 
lin         be  knew  him  att  first  Might ; 

the  KMjf  loolce  him  by  the  hand,  AmiH 

A  taid,  "welcome  into  this  land  !  "  un. 

&  aaked  *  him  what  he  higbt. 

1131    "Sir,  my  name  U  Trjamore:  •wi 

once  yon  helpt  mo  in  a  stowro  "^biTJit 

■a  a  noble  man  of  might ; 
A  DOW  I  am  hero  in  thy  Land  ; 
IIM     eoe  wae  I  nen^  ent,  as  1  t-ndoratond, 
by  god  fall  of  might." 

■  •oddr.— Cop.  ■  iih<  I  m'tr— ('<>[>■ 

*  TW  top  of  torn*  iMter  orrr  the  a  it  '  Th<Te  ■■  ft  round  Llut  lik*  u  «  ^ttrr 

Mrfc^  0^  ia  tU   US.    Ani>  mmot  Hf  r  in  the  M.t.— K 

't»  mfS—V.  '  urt.— Cup. 


120 


SIB  TBIAMORE. 


AmdM 
liTeryglad, 


and  tellf 
Tritaaore 

of  the  day 
■et  for  the 
fight  with  the 
Emperor's 
champion. 


TrlamoTd 
agrees  to 
fight  for 
Arradas, 


of  which  the 
latter  la 
glad. 


when  the  Kmg  wist  it  was  hee, 
his  hart  reioced  greatl je ; 
1140        3  times  he  did  downe  fidl, 

&  [said]  *'  Tryamore,  welcome  to  me ! 
great  sorrowe  &  care  I  haue  had  ^  for  thee ; " 
and  he  told  him  al  ; 

1144     '*  with  the  Emperonr  I '  tooke  a  day 
[to]  defend  me  if  t?iai  I  may ; 

to  lesu  I  will  call ; 
for  I  neuer  his  sonne  slew  ; 
1 148    god  he  knoweth  I  speakc  but  true, 
&  helpe  me  I  trust  he  shall !  " 

then  said  Tryamore  thoe,  ["I  am  fiille  woe*] 
that  you  for  me  haue  beene  greened  soe, 
1152         if  I  might  it  amend ; 
<&  att  the  day  of  battell 
I  trust  to  prone  ^  my  might  as  *  weU, 
if  god  will  grace  me  send." 

1156     then  was  King  Arradas  very  glad, 
and  of  Marradas  was  not  adread : 

when  he  to  the  batteile  shold  wend, 
he  ioyed  ^  thai  he  shold  well  speed, 
11 60     for  Tryamore  was  warry  ^  at  needo 
against  his  enemye  to  defend. 


On  the  day 
fixed,  the 
Emperor 


there  Tryamore  dwelled  with  the  King 
many  a  weeke  without  lettinge ; 
1164         he  lacked  right  nought. 

&  when  the  day  of  battayle  was  came, 
the  Emperonr  with  his  men  hasted  fuU  soone, 
&  manye  wonder  thought ; 


*  Cop.  omits  had, — H.  *  This  word  is  blotted  in  the  MS.— J 
«  MS.  he.— F.                  »  From  Ca.— F.      •  joyed.— Cop. 

*  promc,  iD  the  MS. — F.  '  ware. — Cop. 


iiM    k  brOBght  tIlith<^r  1»th  Kmjt  A  Kitigkt; 
A  MvrwlM,  fAat  was  of  might, 

to  bfttteillo  he  him  lironght. 
th*n  WM  mRnj  a  seemdlfe  mkn, 
tin    mMthm  I  tellj^oaCM); 

of  tban  ftll  he  no  wrmght. 

both  portjTH  (Ant  iJko  1U7 
ioU)  thfl  fmlf]  tookn  the  mj, 
(ITS         thi7  wvrv  ftlrcwly  '  (light. 

a^  Ki»y  then*  kiwcil  Tijamore, 
A  Hjd,  "I  nwko  thcv  mine  [heyra*]  this  hower, 
A  dabb  tiiM  »  kniyAt." 

(in     *  Sxr,"  Mid  Tryamorn,  "  talce  no  dread ; 
I  tnmt  lemtM  will  aw  xpeede, 

Ibr  ]ron  bo  in  tbo  right ; 

tbnCm  tinongti  goda  gmoe 

IIM    I  wfl)  figlifc  for  yon  in  this  pWe 

wAh  Uw  hslpe  of  oar  Lrada  might ! " 

both  {wrtjM  w«ra  (tail  swore 
to  bold  the  promise  fAat  was  made  before  ; 
IIM        to  lems  can  hee *  call. 

Sir  Trjamoro  A  Sir  Harradss 
both  well  armed  was 
amonge  the  Lords  all ; 

lift     echo  of  them  were  sett  on  stecde ; 
all  men  of  Trjsjnore  had  dreede, 

lidt  was  soe  hind  in  all.* 
HaiTsdas  was  stilTe  A  snra,* 
I IM     their  *  might  noe  man  hu  stroako  eiidnrc, 

Bnt  fiat  he  made  them  fall.  ci>k*  1 


'  >1  radj.— C«f..  '  ThM  WM  UDD*  ao  hjnul*  i 

'  k*}(r.— Cup.  •  K>it7ffiii«t(Hm.— Ck. 


122 


1200 


break  thdr 
■pan  and 
■faklda. 


1204 


and  fi|^it 
marrd- 


1208 


Trlamore 
UllflMar- 


1212 


1216 


and  then 
offen  him 
hUown. 


Marradas 
refoaaiit. 


1220 


1224 


Both  alight 


SI&  TSIAMOEE. 

then  rode  thej  together  ^  foil  right ; 
With  sharpe  speres  A  swords  bright 

they  smote  together  soore ; 
th^  spent  speres  A  brake  aheeldi, 
th^  busied  '  fowle  in  ndddest  the  feeldi, 

either  fomed  as  doth  a  bore. 

all  <A^>  wondred  that  beheld 
how  th6  fought  in  the  feeld ; 

there  was  bat  a  Uffe.^ 
Marradas  fiured  fyer^  wood 
becanse  Tryamore  soe  long  stood ; 

sore  gan  hee  smite. 
Sir  Tryamore  &yled  of  Marradas, 
thai,  sword  lighted  ypon  his  horsse, 

the  sword  to  ground  gBH  light. 

Marradas  said,  '*  it  is  great  shame 
on  a  steed  to  wreake  his  game ! 

thon  sholdest  rather  smite  mee ! " 
Tryamore  swore,  '<  by  g^ods  might 
I  had  lener  it  had  on  thee  light ! 

then  I  wold  not  be  soiye  ^ ; 

''but  here  I  gine  thee  steede  mine 
becanse  I  hane  slaine  thine ; 

by  my  will  it  shalbe  soe." 
Marradas  sayd,  '*  I  will  [him]  nought 
till  I  hane  him  with  stroakes  bought," 

[and  won  him  from  my  foe.^] 

&  Tryamore  lighted  from  his  horsse, 
&  to  Marradas  straight  he  goes, 
for  both  on  foote  they  did  light. 


*  the  longer. — CJop. 

•  powsed. — Cop. 

•  they. — Cop. 

*  ?  a  life  to  be  lort.— F.   lyto  (litde). 

-Cop. 


•  fiipe. — Cop. 

•  sore. — Cop. 

'  ? ;  a  line  is  wanting  in  the  MS.  Co 
has  "And  wonne  bjm  here  in  fyght 
— F. 


SIB  nUKOU. 

itM     Sn-  TijUBora  s|«nd  faim  iio«i{^t, 
[Bat  eryr  in  his  hert  he  thof^t  ■] 
**  thk  da;  wu  I  nuKto  K  K«^iU !  " 

A  tboaghl  lAat  hea  himaeHii  void  be  ifaune  • 
ttti    ••  or  el*e  of  him  I  will  win  ray  ahootie  * 
thitngiie  guda  nug^t." 
tW  Ud  echo  ftt  other  with  good  will 
wMx  iharixi  nrarda  made  <^  iteele ; 
ISM        i&ot  ttw  *  nuuij  K  kni^t. 

[^nal  wonder  it  WM  to  behold 

tlw  etKMlcH  thai  WM  betwizt  them  aoe  bold ; 

aH  men  ml^t  it  ve. 
tM«    tUwera  wew7,&  bed  eoegreetlye  bled; 
JiLuraiLu  Hiui  «jra  adreed, 

he  hinted  then  groKtlje ; 

&  lAot  Ttjaaon  lightlje  beheld, 
l«M     A  ftmgfat  feeralTe  in  the  feeld  ; 
he  itroke  Man*du  aoeaore 

/iot  the  sword  through  the  bod;  nu. 

tlMfo  wu  the  Emperonr  a  sony  man  ; 
iiM         he  made  thenn  peace  for  enOT'-murc  ; 

he  Idsaed  the  Ki'Uf,  &  was  his  freind, 
&  tooke  hia  leaooo  horoewarda  bo  wend  ; 
Doe  longer  there  dwell  wold  heo. 
Its*     then  King  Arradaa  &  Tryamoro 

went  h>  the  palace  with  great  honor, 

into  that  tych  cit7o. 
there  waa  ioy  wi'thont  care, 
IIM     &  all  they  had  g>v*t  wel&re, 
there  might  no  hotter  bee ; 


124 


SIR  TRIAMORE. 


hunt,  ride, 
and  enjoy 
themselves. 

1260 


Amdaa 
oflere  to 

TrUmoxe  his 
heir, 


batTriamore     1264 
declines,  and 


asks  only  ft 
steed; 


he  means  to 
do  adven- 
tores. 


Arradas 
gives  him 


money 

and  a  fearless 
steed, 


1268 


1272 


1276 


they  hunted  &  rode  many  a  where, 
full  great  pleasure  they  had  there. 

among  the  knights  of  price 
the  King  profered  him  full  &yre, 
&  sayd,  ''  Tryamore,  He  make  thee  mine  heyre, 

for  thou  art  strong  &  wise," 

Sir  Tryamore  said,  "  Sir,  trulye 
into  other  countryes  goe  will  I ; 

I  desire  of  you  but  a  steed, 
&  to  other  lands  will  I  goe 
some  great  aduentures  for  to  doe, 

thus  will  I  my  liffe  lead." 
the  King  was  verry  sorry  tho ; 
when  t?iat  hee  wold  from  him  goe, 

he  gaue  him  a  sure  weede,^ 

&  plenty  of  siluer  &  gold, 
<&  a  steed  as  hee  wold, 

tThat  nothing  wold  feare. 
hee  tooke  his  leaue  of  the  King, 
And  mourned  at  his  departing,  [page  228] 

then  hasted  he  him  there ; 


and  promises 
him  all 


his  realm. 
Triamore 


rides  to 
Hungary. 


the  King  sayd,  "  Tryamor !  i?iat  •  is  mine, 
1280    when  thou  Ust  it  shall  be  thine, 

all  my  kingdome  lesse  &  more." 

Now  is  Tryamore  forth  goe ; 

Lords  &  ladyes  were  full  woe,' 
1284        euerye  man  loued  him  there. 

Tryamore  rode  in  hast  trulye 
into  the  Land  of  Hungarye, 
aduentures  for  to  seeke.^ 


1  steede  is  marked  out  in  the  MS. — ^F. 
'  whatever,  all  that. — F. 
•  for  him  were  woe. — CJop. 


*  The  Cambridge  text  sends  him 
generally  everywhere  before  going  to 
Hungaiy. — ^F. 


BIR  TBIAHORB. 

Dtnntaineo,  the  aooth  to  w»j, 
be  fwU  forth  an  hi*  way ; 
wtib  m  paliuer  he  did  meeto  -, 

far  ukMl  almc*  for  gods  nke, 
im     it  Trjmtn'm-  Lim  not  forgttto, 

he  gwii:  liiui  with  words  sweete. 

ihe  (aIbu-t  said,  "  turae  jree  affune, 

or  dac  I  fi^ani  yoa  wilbe  alalne  ; 
UN        jroB  ntttj  not  pMW  but  yon  be  beat" 

TrjmBtOTC  atkkad  "  why  Me  P  " 
**  Sv,"  be  Mid,  "  there  be  brethren  towe 
timt  on  the  moantaiae  dwells." 
IM9    "  faitb,"  mid  Tryamore,  "  if  there  be  no  more, 
I  tr«st  in  god  tkat  way  to  goe, 

if  tbu  be  tne  tkat  thon  tella." 
be  bad*  the  palmer  good  day, 
UM    4  inde  forth  on  hii  way 
oMr  heath  A  feelda  ; 

the  palmer  pnyed  to  him  fall  &8t, 
Tryamore  waa  not  agnat, 
laM         be  blew  his  home  fall  shrill. 
he  had  not  rydden  bnt  a  while, 
not  the  Hoontenauce  of  a  mile, 
2  ki*t(/AU  he  saw  on  a  hill : 

1111     the  one  of  them  to  him  gan  Tyde, 
they  other  still  gan  abydo 

a  litle  there  beside. 
k  when  Xh6  did  Tryamore  spyc, 
ISIS     the  said,  "  tnrne  thcc  traytor,'  or  thon  shall  dye, 
therlon  stand  &  ahydo !  " 

,'  tnjtor  lnni«.— Cop. 


126 


SIB   TBIAMOKE. 


Oiie  charges 
him, 


the  other 


cither  againe  other  ^  gan  ryd  fast, 
theire  strokes  mad  their  speres  to  brast, 
1320  &  made  them  wounds  ftdl  wydc. 

the  other  kni^^t  thai  honed ^  soe, 
wondred  that  Tryamore  dared  soe : 
he  rode  to  them  that  tyde 


Beparates 
them, 


asks 

Triamoro 
hilt  name, 


1324      &  departed  them  in  twaine, 

&  to  speake  fayre  he  began  to  fraine 

wtth  words  that  sonnded  well : 
to  Tryamore  he  '  sayd  anon, 
1328      "  a  doughtyer  Knight  I  nener  saw  none  !* 
thy  name  that  thon  vs  tell." 
Tryamore  said,  "  first  will  I  wett 
why  that  you  doe  keepe  this  street, 
1332  &  where  that  you  doe  dwell." 


and  Hays 
that  their 
brother 
3tarrada8 


wan  8lain  by 

one 

TriamorB, 


1336 


the  said,  "  wee  had  a  brother  hight  Marradas, 
with  the  Emperour  forsooth  he  was, 

a  stronge  man  well  I-know.^ 
in  Arragon,  before  the  Emperour, 
a  linight  called  Sir  Tryamore 

in  battel  there  him  slew  ^ ; 


and  their 
elder  brother 
Bnrlong  1340 


1344 


"  &  alsoe  wee  say  another, 
Burlong  ^  our  elder  brother, 

as  a  man  of  much  might ; 
he  hath  beseeged  soothlye 
the  Kdngs  daughter  of  Hungarte  ; 

to  wed  her  he  hath  height ; 


'  other  than. — Ck)p.  r^d  has  a  tag  at 
the  end. — F. 

*  hoved,  i.e.  hovered  on  the  hill,  qu.— 
P.  kawd  is  common  in  the  sense  of 
halted.—F. 

■  they. — Cop. 


*  so  dotighty  a  knight  knowe  I  none. 
—Cop. 

*  y-nongh  (enough). — Ca. 

*  There  is  something  like  another  e 
before  the  w  in  the  MS. — F. 

'  Burlonde. — Ca. 


SU  nUMORK 

■•  A  MM'  mU  hee  bftth  sped 

tiAi  hrrt  dttO  (Aat  Ladj  wedd 

bat  Aee  im;  Gnd  ft  Ka^it 

UM     llml  BcBUWSl  aaenatae  aaj ; 

to  JlU4  Uw7  1wb«  tooke  m  dfty, 

wags  battel  A  fight ; 

**  far  Uot  ame  Tryamora 

lau    loaed  that  I^djv  paramoore, 

aa  H  u  before  ttdd; 

if  bs  win  to  Hnngarje, 

oaeda  mnat  ho  come  ts  by ; 

UH         to  Bwete  with  him  wee  wold." 


[,  "  I  Hj  not  najr, 

bat  aqr  name  I  will  toll  this  day, 

in  &ith  I  win  not  Laine  : 

UM    thinke  yoar  lonnwjr  well  heaett, 

far  wAh  Tryamne  jron  haae  mett 

Uot  jowr  brother  hath  slaine." 

"  welcome  !  "  the  said,  "  Tryaraoro  ! 

IH*     hia  death  ahalt  thon  repent  wrv  ; 
tby  sorrow  shall  begin. 
yeeld  thee  to  rs  atton, 
for  thou  shalt  not  frvm  \a  gone 

I3M        by  Doe  manner  of  gin.'  " 

th^  smote  feircly  att  him  tho, 
A  Tryamore  against  them  i 

wi'tbont  mora  delay. 
I3TS     Sir  Tryamora  proncd  him  Tull  prcHt, 
be  brake  their  spcro  on  their  brcttt, 

hee  had  inch  assay ; 

'  tjnar. — Cop.     »ile.— F. 


iirr 


SIB   TRIAMORE. 


lit 
Uhu 


be  days 
t  of  them. 


/he  other 


ridMathim, 


bntTrift- 
morekillB 
him  too. 


his  slieeld  was  broken  in  peeoes  3, 
1376     his  horsse  was  smitten  on  his  knee, 
soe  hard  att  him  th^  thrust.^ 
Sir  Tryamore  was  then  right  wood, 
&  slew  the  one  there  as  lie  stood 
1380        wtth  his  sword  ftdl  prest. 

that  otlier  rode  his  way, 
his  hart  was  in  great  affi*ay, 

yet  he  tamed  againe  thai  tide, — 
1384     wlien  Tryamore  had  slaine  his  brother, 
a  sorry  man  then  was  the  other, — 

&  straight  againe  to  him  did  rydde ; 

then  they  2  sore  fongbte 
1388     that  the  other  to  the  ground  was  brought 
then  were  th6  both  slaine. 


Helen 
wonders 
where 
TrUmore  is. 


The  day  to 
win  her  is 
come; 


Bnrlong 
calls  for  her 
knight. 

She  has 
none. 


tho  the  Ladye  on  Tryamore  thought, 
for  of  him  shee  knew  right  nought, 
1392        shee  wist  not  what  to  say. 

the  day  was  come  that  was  sett, 
the  Lords  assembled  without  lett, 
all  in  good  array. 

1396     Burlonge  was  redye  dight, 

he  bade  the  Lady  send  the  Knight, 

shee  answered  **  I  ne  may :  " 
for  in  that  castle  shee  had  hight 
1400    to  keepe  her  with  all  her  might, 
as  the  story  doth  say. 


th6  said,  "  if  Tryamore  be  aliue, 
hither  ^  will  hee  come  blithe ; 
1404        god  send  ys  good  grace  to  speed  ! 


*  tbrast. — Cop. 


MS.  eithf 


SIB  TRIAMORE. 


129 


With  that  came  in  Sir  Trjamore 
in  the  thickest  of  that  stower, 
into  the  feild  withont  dread. 

1408     he  asked  'what  all  that  did  meane.* 

the  people  shewed  that  a  battel  there  shold  beenc 

for  the  lone  of  that  Ladje. 
he  saw  Burlono  on  his  steede, 
1412     &  straight  to  him  he  yeede ; 
that  Ladye  challengeth  hee. 


Bnt  just 

then 

Triomoro 

rides  Into 
the  field, 


goes  straight 
to  Burlor  g, 


Borlong  asked  him  if  he  wold  6ght. 
Tiyamore  said,  "  with  all  [my]  might 
1416         to  slay  thee,  or  thou  me." 
anon  th6  made  them  readye, 
&  none  there  knew  him  sikerlye, 
th^  wondred  what  he  shold  bee. 


and  pays  hell 
fight  him. 


1420     high  on  a  tower  stood  that  good  Ladye ; 
shee  knew  not  what  Knight  verelyo 

that  Wi'th  Bnrlong  did  fight, 
fast  shee  asked  of  her  men 
1424     *  if  that  Knight  they  cold  ken 
that  to  battell  was  dight ; 

*  a  griffon  he  beareth  all  of  blew.'  * 
a  herald  of  armes  soone  him  ^  knew, 
1428         &  said  anon-right, 

"  Madame  !  god  hath  sent  you  succor ; 
for  yonder  is  Tryamore 

That  with  Burlong  will  fight." 


Helen 
does  not 
know  him ; 


bnt  a  hcmM 
rBCognisos 
his  crest. 


and  tells  her 
it  is 
Triamore. 


U  ago  230] 


1432     to  lesus  gan  the  Ladye  pray 

for  to  speed  him  on  his  loumcy 
that  hee  about  yeed. 


She  prajs  f<»r 
his  buccois. 


*  A  kroste  he  brryth  in  blewe. — Ca. 
VOL.  n.  K 


*  Syr  Barnardo.— Ca. 


130 


SIU   TBIAMORE. 


Triamoro 
and  Burlong 
fight 


for  a  long 
while, 


till  Triamorc 

loBCHhia 

Bword. 


then  those  Knighta  ran  together, 
1436     the  speres  in  peeces  gan  shiner, 
th6  fonght  fall  sore  indeed  ; 

there  was  noe  man  in  the  feild  tho 
who  shold  haue  the  better  of  them  tow, 
1440        soe  mightily e  thej  did  them  beare. 
the  Battel  lasted  wonderons  long ; 
thongh  Burlong  was  neuer  soe  stronge, 
there  found  he  his  peere. 

1444     Trjamoro  a  stroke  to  him  mint,^ 
his  sword  fell  downe  at  tJiat  dint 

out  of  his  hand  him  froe. 
then  was  Burlong  verry  *  glad, 
1448     &  the  Ladye  was  yerry  sad, 
&  many  more  fail  woe. 


He  aaks  for 

and  Bnrlong 
agreen  to 
give  it  him 
if  hell  tell 
his  name. 


Triamore 
tells  him. 


Burlong 
reproaches 
him  vdth 
killing 
Marradas 


Tryamore  asked  his  sword  againe, 
but  Burlong  gan  him  fraine 
1452        to  know  first  his  name ; 

&  said,  *'  tell  me  first  what  thou  hight, 
&  why  thou  challengeth  the  Ladye  bright, 
then  shalt  thou  haue  thy  sword  againe.'* 

1456     Tryamore  sayd,  *'  soe  mote  I  thee, 

My  name  I  will  tell  trulye, 

therof  I  wiU  not  doubt ; 

men  call  me  Sir  Tryamore, 

1460     I  wan  this  Ladye  in  a  stowro 

among  Barrons  stout." 

then  said  Burlong,  "  thou  it  was 
tJiat  slew  my  brother  Marradas  ! 
1464        a  faire  '  hap  thee  befell !  " 

*  mynt. — Cop.  minded,  meant,  intended. — F, 

*  wonder.--Cop.  •  ?  fowle.— F. 


Bi'r  Trywaon  Mjrd  to  him  tho, 
••iw  1MB  I  done  thj  BratJiren  2 
tlun  9B  the  UonntftinM  did  dwelL" 

i«M      Uiuloog  Mud,  "  woe  III&7  thoD  bee, 
for  thoo  bMt  Blaine  my  brethren  3 1 

•onow  hut  thoa  songht ! 
tkjr  nrord  getts  thoa  aeoer  agftine 
1471     tO)  I  be  areDged,  A  thoa  ihune ; 
BOW  I  am  well  bethooght! " 

Sv  Tijinon  Mjd,  "  noe  force '  tho, 
tboo  aludt  repent  it  era  thoa  goe ; 
U»         doe  forth  I    I  draad  thee  nonght ! " 
BorloDg  to  imite  wm  rMidye  bowne, 
hii  feeto  elipt,*  A  bee  fell  dowue, 
A  Trjanunv  right  well  nonght,* 

MM      hie  nrord  light^  he  vp  hent, 
A  to  Borlonge  &Bt  he  went ; 
for  nothing  wold  he  flee  ; 
A  M  he  wold  hano  risen  againc, 
ItM      bo  unotA  his  Icggs  ceen  in  twaiuo 
h«rd  fast  by  the  knee. 

Tryunore  bade  him  "stand  rpriglit, 
A  all  men  may  ace  now  in  fi)(lit 
l**it  wee  bocno  mcvtu  of  a  siie." 

•Sir  Tryamore  anffoivd  him 
to  take  another  weapon, 
aa  a  knight  of  moch  prizo. 

I49t      Bnrlong  on  his  stnmpca  stood 

aa  a  man  tlutt  wan  nyo  wood, 

A  foogbt  wondcrooa  hard/ 


132 


SIR   TUIAMORE. 


&  Sir  Tryamore  strake  stroakes  siiro, 
1496      for  he  cold  well  endure  ; 

of  him  heo  was  not  affrayd, 


but 

Triamoro 
cato  hlshead 
off. 


1500 


&  vnder  his  ventale 
his  head  he  smote  of  without  fayle ; 
With  thai  in  peeces  his  sword  brast. 


and  goes  to 
his  love. 


Hdcn 


1504 


Now  is  Burlong  slaine, 
&  Triamore  with  maine 

into  the  Castle  went, 
to  the  Ladye  thai  was  full  bright ; 
&  att  the  gates  shee  mett  the  Kni/^hi, 

&  in  her  armes  shee  him  hent. 


welcomoB 
him. 


The  borons 
agree  to  hold 
their  lands 
of  him, 


Shee  said,  "  welcome  str  Tryamore  ! 

1508      for  you  haue  bought  my  loue  full  deere, 
my  hart  is  on  you  lent!  " 
then  said  all  the  Barrens  bold, 
"  of  him  wee  will  our  lands  hold  ;  " 

1512  &  therto  they  did  assent. 


[I>age2ni. 


and  the 
walding-day 
14  fixed. 


Triamore 
fiends  for  his 
mother. 


1516 


there  is  noe  more  to  say, 

but  they  haue  taken  a  certaine  day 

thai  they  both  shalbe  wed. 
Sir  Tryamore  for  his  mother  sent, 
a  Messenger  for  her  went, 

&  into  the  castle  he[r]  led. 


and  she 
lellshim 
that  King 
Arradasis 
ills  father, 


Tryamore  to  his  mother  gan  saine, 
1520      "  my  father  I  wold  know  faine, 
sith  I  haue  soe  well  sped." 
shee  said,  "  King  Arraydas  of  Arragon, 
is  thy  father,  &  thou  his  owne  sonne ; 
1.524  I  was  his  wedded  Queene  ; 


SIR  TRIAMORE. 


133 


1528 


"  a  leasing  was  borne  me  in  hand,* 
&  falsely  fleamed  me  out  of  his  land 

by  a  traitor  Keene, 
Str  Marrockee  th6  hight ' :  he  did  mo  woe, 
&  Sir  Rodger  my  knight  he  did  sloe, 

that  my  guide  ^  shold  hane  beene." 


that  8ho  was 

banished 

vnrongfnlly, 


throngh  Sir 
Marrock. 


&  when  tTiat  Tryamore  all  heard,* 
1532      &  how  his  mother  shee  had  ^  sayd, 
letters  he  made  &  wrought; 

he  prayd  Km^  Arradas  to  come  him  tQl, 

if  that  it  were  his  will, 
1536  thus  he  him  besought : 


Trlamoro 


writes  and 

begs 

Airadas 


1540 


*  if  hee  will  come  into  Hungarte 
for  his  Manho  od  &  his  Masterye, 

<&  that  he  wold  fayle  in  nought.' 
then  was  K:ing  Arradas  verry  glad  ; 
the  Messengers  great  guifks  had 

for  they  ty dings  that  they  brought. 


to  come  to 
Uungary. 


the  day  was  come  that  was  sett, 
1544      the  Jjords  came  thither  without  let, 
&  ladyes  of  great  pryde  ; 

then  wold  they  noe  longer  lett ; 

shortlye  after  ^  they  are  fett, 
1548  w/th  2  dukes  on  eucrye  side  ; 


On  tlip 

wedding" 

day, 


1552 


they  lady  to  the  church  the  led ; 
a  Bishopp  them  together  did  wed, 

in  full  great  hast  the  hyed. 
soone  after  that  weddingo 
Sir  Tryamore  was  crowned  Km<7, 

they  wold  noe  longer  abydc. 


Qaceh  Helen 
is  married  to 
Trioznore, 


who  is  then 

crowned 

king. 


*  forc<Hi  on  mo. — F. 

*  ?  the  wigbt — F. 


*  gyder. — Cop. 

*  herdo. — Cop. 


*  to  him.— Cop. 

•  after  forthe. — Copi 


134 


Sin  TRIAMORE. 


ArradaflseoB 
Margaret, 


and  asks  her 
what  her 
name  is. 


BhesaysBhe 
was  hifl 
qnem,  and 
Marrock 
defamed  her. 


After  dinner 


Bhe  tells  him 
all  her 
history. 


They  kiss, 
and  all 
rejoice. 


Helen  ia 
glad  too, 


and  both 
couples  live 
long  and 
happily. 


the  Queencj  his  mother  Margarcti, 
1556      before  the  "King  shee  was  sett 
in  a  goodlye  cheare.* 
"King  Arradas  beheld  his  Qneene, 
him  thought  ihut  hee  had  her  scene, 
1560  shee  was  a  ladye  fajre  ; 

the  Kin<7  said,  "  it  is  your  will 
jouT  name  me  for  to  tell, 

I  pray  you  with  words  fayre." 

1564      "  my  Lord,"  sayd  [she,]  "  I  was  your  Queenc ; 
jcmr  steward  did  me  ill  ^  teene  ; 
that  euill  might  him  befalle !  " 
the  King  spake  noe  more  words 
1568      till  the  clothes  were  drawen  from  the  bords, 
&  men  rose  in  the  hall. 
&  by  the  hand  he  tooke  the  Queene  gent ; 
soo  in  the  chamber  forth  he  went, 
1572  &  there  shee  told  him  all. 

then  was  there  great  loy  &  blisse ! 
when  they  together  gan  kisse, 

then  all  they  companye  made  loy  enough. 
1576      the  younge  Queene  [was]  ftdl  glad 

that  shee  a  Kings  sonne  to  her  Lord  had, 

shee  was  glad,  I  trowe  ; 

in  loy  together  lead  their  liflTe 

1580      all  their  dayes  without  striffe, 

&  lined  many  a  fayre  yeere. 

Then  king  Arradas  &  his  Queene  [page  2^2 

had  ioy  enough  them  betweene, 
1 584  &  merrilye  3  Hued  together. 


*  For  the  preceding  half-stanza  the 
Cambridge  text  has  a  whole  one : 

Ye  may  welle  wote  certeynly 
That  there  was  a  great  mangeiy, 
There  as  so  many  wrre  mett : 


Qwene  Margaret  began  the  dey9c ; 
Kyng  Ardus  wyt-h-owtyn  lees, 
Be  hur  was  he  sett. — F. 

•  mekyll. — Cop. 
■  merely. — Cop. 


SIR  TRIAMORE. 


135 


&  thnfl  wee  leane  of  Tryamore 
that  lined  long  in  great  honor 
with  the  fayre  Hellene.* 
1588      I  pray  god  gine  their  sonles  good  rest, 
&  all  that  hane  heard  this  litle  lest,^ 

highe  heanen  for  to  win ! 
god  grant  vs  all  to  hane  that  grace, 
1592      him  for  to  see  in  the  celestyall  place ! 
I  pray  yon  all  to  say  Amen  ! 


ffins. 


3 


Goodbye, 
Triamorel 


Ood  send  all 
my  hearers 
to  heaven  1 
Amenl 


'  Kljne. — Cop. 

«  Gefit.    P.C.— P.    gest.— Cop. 

*  Copland's    colophon    is,  '*  d 


Im- 


printed at  London  in  Temes  strete  vpon 
tho  thre  Crano  wharfe.  By  Wyllyam 
Copland."— F. 


136 


Gay  jour- 
neys in  the 
Holy  Land, 


€\i^tt  ^  Smarant.' 

[S«*e  tho  GuQcnil  Introduction  to  the  Quj  Pooms,  under  Guy  j-  CoUbrandc  bel<>w.  J 

uUYE  :  ionmeyed  ore  the  sanctifjed  ground 

whcras  the  lewes  fayre  citye  soineti[inc]  stood, 
wherin  our  saviours  sacred  head  wais  crowned, 
4         &  where  for  sinfull  man  he  shed  his  blood, 
to  see  the  sepulcher  was  his  intent, 
the  tombe  thai  loseph  vnto  lesus  lent. 

With  tedious  miles  he  tyred  his  wearye  feet, 
8         &  passed  desarts  places  '  full  of  danger; 

att  last  with  a  most  woefull  wight  did  meet, 
a  man  •  thai  vnto  sorrow  was  noe  stranger, 

for  ho  had  15  sonnes  made  captiues  all 
\-i    to  slauish  ^  bondage,  in  extremest  thrall. 

A  gyant  called  Amarant  detained  them, 

whom  noe  man  durst  encounter  for  his  strcnght, 
who,  in  a  castle  wAtch  he  held,  had  chaind  them. 
IG         Guy  questions  w[h]ere,*  &  ynderstands  at  loiight^ 
the  place  not  farr.    "  lend  me  thy  sword,"  qwoth  Guy ; 
*'  lie  lend  my  manhood  all  thy  sonnes  to  firee." 


and  moct« 
a  woeful 
man, 

whoHc  fifteen 
sons  arc  held 
In  bondiigc 
by 

the  f^ant 
Auuurant. 


Guy  nndcT- 
takcs  to  free 
thein, 


and  knocks 
loudly  at  tho 
giant's  door. 


With  that  he  goes  &  layes  vpon  the  dore 
20        like  one,  he  sayes,  tliai  must  h  will  come  in. 
the  Gyant,  he  was  neere  soe  rowzed  before, 


'  By  the  elegance  of  Language  & 
easy  Flow  of  th^  versification,  this  Poem 
shot^/d  be  more  modem  than  the  rest. 
— P.  The  first  bombastic  rhodomontade 
afiTiiir  in  the  book.  Certaiul^  modern, 
and  certainly  bad,  as  bad  as  it  well  can 
be,  if  it  was  meant  seriously.  One  is 
tempted  in  charity  to  think  it  a  quiz  of 


the  style  it  affects.  Cp.  at.  31,  "  but 
did  not  prt)mise  you  they  should  be  fatt." 
1.  186.— F.  «  de6art-p[l«ce8].— P. 

*  called  Erie  Jonas,  p.  258  [of  MS. 
torn  out  for  King  BlBtmere\. — P. 

*  There  are  two  strokes  in  MS.  after 
the  f/,  one  is  dotted. — ^F. 

*  where. — ^P, 


OUYE   AND   AMABAXT. 


for  HOC  such  knocking  at  his  gate  had  bcene  ; 
lakes  his  keycs  &  clab,  A  gocth  out, 
14     Staring  with  irefull  countenance  about : 


i:i7 

Anuunuit 
cooes  ftirlL, 


31 


**  SiiTR !  '*  sais  hee,  "  what  busines  hast  thou  heoro  ? 

art  come  to  feast  my  crowes  about  the  walls  >  ? 
didst '  nener  heare  noo  ransome  cold  him  cleerc 

ikai  in  the  compas  of  my  furye  falls  '  P 
for  making  me  to  take  a  porters  paines, 
With  this  tamo  club  I  will  dash  out  thy  braincs.*' 

**  Gyant,"  aaica  Guy,  "  your  quarrelsome,  I  see  ; 

choUcnr  A  you  are  something  neero  of  Kin ; 
dangerous  at  a  club  be-like  you  bee ; 

I  haue  beene  better  armed,  though  now  goe  th[in.] 
bat  shew  thy  ytmost  hate,  enlarge  thy  spite ! 
hcere  is  the  wepon  (hat  must  doe  me  right.'* 


ami  Mi\-« 
Im?  II  <U-4i 

out. 


Ony  aiurarer* 


that  hw 
»«iiril  «i1l 
ri|;tti  liitii. 


4" 


Soe  takes  his  sword,  salutes  [him  *]  with  the  same 
about  the  heacl,  the  shoulders,  ^  the  sidcH, 

wliilest  hi*  cn»ctt»d  club  doth  death  |>r»»cliiiinc, 
standing  w/tli  huge  (\)llt)s.sous  sjmciuus  strydts, 

patting  such  vigor  to  his  knotttnl  lx*iunc 

thai  like  a  furnace  he  did  smoke  oxtn-nie. 


and  attAck^ 
ihcclaiit. 


\»  hrt  fctriki  * 


44 


Bet  on  the  ground  he  S|)oiit  liis  stroakos  in  vaino, 
for  (luy  was  nimble  to  avoydo  them  Ktill, 

A  vTv  he  cold  recoiUTH*  rhihb  ugiiiiu% 

did  Incite  luH  plated  coale  a^iinnt  )iis  will  : 

att  i»uoh  a4luAntage  (luy  wold  neii'  /*  fuylc 

to  beatc  him  soundly  in  his  coate  of  Muyle. 


«V<>»il«, 


ai>>l  li.-v'K*  ni 


•  .'1        P. 
*  }  MS  ii%iif*t  or  the  f  Juis  I't-cu  alt*  r»xi 
••*  |»»f1  ui  thr  $. — F. 

•  i*a  -  p 


•  him  w//h.  -  r. 

*  Tli»  n'"  nil  jij""*!  nij'lii   in  ri*'«i»i   <i,k 
o\»T  the  »  iu  lh«   MS.  -1*. 


138 


GUTE  AND   AMARANT. 


Amarant 
growd  faint, 


C}uy  to  lot 
him  drink  at 
a  spring. 


Ony  givcH 
him  leave. 


Amarant 
drinkH  ho 
groodily 


that  Guy 
wonders. 


llo.  cnllH  on 
Amunint  to 
figtit  again. 


Att  last  throngh  strength,  Amarant  *  feeble  grew, 

&  said  to  Gnj,  "  as  thou  art  of  humane  race, 
shew  itt  in  this,  ginee  nature  ^  wants  her  dew ; 
52        let  me  but  goe  &  drinke  in  jounder  place  ; 
thou  canst  not  yoeld  to  '  [me]  a  smaller  thing 
then  to  grant  life  thata  giuen  bj  the  spring." 

"  I  giue  the  leaue,"  sajes  Guy,  "  goe  drinke  thy  *  last, 
56        to  pledge  the  dragon  &  the  savage  beare,' 

sucecd  the  tragedyes  thai  they  haue  past ; 

but  neuer  thinke  to  drinke  *  cold  water  more  ^  ; 

drinke  deepe  to  death,  &  after  that  carrouse 
60    bid  him  receiue  thee  in  his  earthen  house." 

Soc  to  the  spring  he  goes,  &  slakes  his  thirst, 

takcing  in  ®  the  water  in,  extremly  like 
Some  -wracked  shipp  that  on  some  rocke  is  burst,  [p.  23:i] 
64        whose  forced  bulke  against  the  stones  doe  stryke  ; 
Scoping  it  in  soe  fast  with  both  his  hands 
that  (juy,  admiring,  to  behold  him  stands. 

"  Come  on,"  qt*oth  Guy,  "  lets  to  our  worke  againe  ; 
68        thou  stayest  about  thy  liquor  ouer  longe ; 
the  fish  which  in  the  riuer  doe  remaine 

will    want    thereby ;     thy  *   drinking    doth    them 
wrong; 
but  I  will  [have]  their  >®  satisfaction  mdde ; 
72    with  gyants  blood  th6  must  &  shall  be  payd !  " 

tijc  giant  "  Villaino,"  quoth  Amarant,  "  He  crush  thee  straight ! 

thy  life  shall  pay  thy  daring  toungs  oflTence ! 
tliis  club,  Yfhich  is  about  some  hundred  waight, 


'  tlic  strength  of  A:  or  thro'  lacko 
of  fitrengih  he. — P.  This  circumstanco 
B('oni8  borrowed  from  soug  104.  p.  349, 
[of  MS,  Guy  <f  Cohf)randc].—V. 

'  An  *8  has  been  added  by  P.  in  the 
MS.— F. 

•  unto.— P. 


^  One  stroke  too  many  for  tky  in  the 
MS.— F. 

•  boar.  Qu. — ^P. 

•  Only  half  the  n  in  the  MS.— F. 
'  here,  Qu.,  or  mair. — ^P. 

■  delend.— P. 

•  MS.  their.— F.    thy.— P. 
'•  have  their. — P. 


0^  to  duipftrth  ^  tbei^  kmcc  * 
tlwe  far  Bawrn*  dre«t.  I  ms5i  xkc«d^  «,«w*< 

tliy  boBM  M  tJber  ve;«  maae  cf  xwi» :  *         2^"^^' 


iltf«m. 


ftn  *  tliis  bold  Panns  bMU^ 

wUdi  worcliT  G«T  edd  ill  endarv  to  hi4UY,  ci?  wv» 

M  Bcms  TpoB  those  burer  rapporcxnc  po«ics  xmanm'* 

wkkk  Eke  2  ptUan  did  Kis  bodr  hnre. 
AaanBl  far  those  woonds  in  cboller  growwk 
A  4espentelje  att  gvj  liis  dnb  he  thn>««is  S^*m?^** 

WkiA  did  direetlTe  on  his  bodr  liisht 

eoe  hea« J  A  eoe  wca^rhtre  >  there  withalL 
Ikat  downe  to  groond  on  radden  came  the  KMi'^/it ; 

4  ere  he  cold  leconer  from  his  &I], 

the  gyant  gott  his  clob  againe  in  his  fist» 

A  stroke  a  bk>w  that  wonderfuUre  mist. 

•*  Timjtor !  •'  q»oth  Gut,  "  thy  falshood  lie  wpay.  o«y  w- 

M         this  coward  art  to  intercept  my  bloode.** 

sajea  Amarani,  ^  lie  morthcr  any  way ; 
wi'th  encmvcT*,  all  rantajri^s  arv  ir»»»^l ; 

f»*  cvli  I  pi»y«40n  ill  thy  ni'^Mrills  Mowo, 
K     Ijt*  surv  of  it-  1  woM  di'j»tn>v  the  fkH* !  " 

'•  ItA  Wfllj"  said  (iiiy.  **  thy  honest  thonjrlits  ap]H;ir 

Within  th'it  bfa«*tl\v  luilki*  \%]jen'  divills  ilwill, 
wA.oh  an*  thy  tt-nnants  while  th«ui  liut>t  lurrt', 
t  ••  hut  wiUh:  hintlliinlh  whrn  thou  (N^nu'^t  in  hi-ll. 

Vi!r  niiMTi'unt !  |KVj«in*  ihiv  f«»r  thiir  dvu  * 
Inhuuiane  mon^ti-r,  hurttull  vntti  nuMi  * 

•*  Hut  hn-ath  thv  M-ltV  a  tinu*  wliilo  I  l'»k'  driniwi-.  ui»i  *-Jk- 

■  i         r»r  flanirinL'  Pli*-:i1iitt  u-ih  hi**  f\i  r\r  ivr  iIiu.l. 

t«»ruientM  tiic  r**n:  w/tli  hurninu'  hvut.  I  thinLc 


140 


GUYB   AND  AMARANT. 


Amarant 
rcf  11868:  ho 
ifl  not  sach  a 
fool 


my  thirst  wold  serue  to  drinkc  an  Ocean  drye. 
forbear  a  litle,  as  I  delt  with  tliee." 
108     Qi^th  Amarant,  "  tliou  hast  noe  foole  of  moe ! 

"  Noe !  silly e  wretch !  my  father  taught  more  ^ 

how  I  shold  vse  such  enemyes  as  thou, 
by  all  my  gods  !  I  doe  reioyce  at  itt, 
112         to  vnderstand  tJuit  thirst  constraines  thee  now ; 
for  all  the  treasure  that  the  world  containes, 
one  drop  of  water  shall  not  coole  thy  vaynes. 


aA  to  refresh 
bis  foe. 


Amarant 
swingM  his 
club  round, 


and  promises 
to  kiU  Guy 


and  drink 
his  blood. 


Guy  abuses 
the  giant, 


"  Releeuo  my  foe  !  why,  twere  a  madmans  part ! 
116         refresh  an  aduersarye,  to  my  wronge ! 

if  thou  imagine  this,  a  child  thou  art. 

no,  fellow !  I  haue  knowne  the  world  to  longo 

to  bo  soe  simple  now  I  know  thy  want ; 
120    a  Minutes  space  to  thee  I  will  not  grant." 

And  with  these  words,  heauing  a-loft  his  club 

into  the  ayre,  he  swinges  the  same  about, 
then  shakes  his  lockes,  &  doth  his  temples  rubb, 
124         &  like  the  Cyclops  in  his  pride  doth  strout  ^  ; 
"  Sirra,"  said  hee,  "  I  haue  you  at  a  lifte  ; 
now  you  are  come  vnto  jout  latest  shift ; 

"  Perish  for  euer  with  this  stroke  I  send  thee, 
1 28         a  Medcine  will  doe  thy  thirst  much  good  ; 

take  noe  more  care  of  drinke  before  I  end  thee, 
&  then  weelle  haue  carowses  of  thy  blood! 

heeres  at  thee  wtth  a  buchers  downe-right  blow, 
132     to  please  my  fury  w/th  thine  ouerthrow  !  " 

"  Infe[r]nall,  false,  obdurat  feend !  "  Guy  said,^ 
"  that  seemes  a  lumpc  of  crueltye  from  hell ! 
ingratefull  monster  !  since  thou  hast  denyd  ^ 


'  Strowt  yii,  or  bocyn  owto  (bowtyn, 
S.)  lurgeOf  Catholicon,  Prompt. — F. 


*  cryd ;  [or]  perhaps,  *  said  Guy.'— P 
■  dost  deny. — ^P. 


OUTS   AND   AMARANT.  141 

las         the  thing  to  mcc  whcrin  I  vblhI  thcc  [well/] 
in'th  more  rencnfi^  then  crc  my  sword  did  make, 
On  thj  accursed  head  revenge  De  take !  iv^ttnt] 

**  Thy  gjants  longitndo  shall  shorter  shrinkc, 
I4ii        except  thjT  snnscorcht  sckin  doo  weapon  prooo.*        m&  Um 


fMcbaihtm 


fkrwell  my  thirst !  I  doo  disdaino  to  drinke.  tMrwatcn 

for  Umbi- 

■treamcs,  keepe  yon[r]   waters    to  yon[r]    owno  mIvm^ 
behoneSy' 
or  let  wild  beasts  bo  welcome  themnto ; 
i«4     with  those  pearlo  dropps  I  will  not  hane  to  doo. 


**  Hold,  tyrant !  take  a  tast  of  my  good  will ; 

for  thns  I  doe  begin  my  bloodyo  boat ; 
yon  cannot  chose  bnt  like  the  greeting  ill,— 
i«f         it  is  not  that  same  clnb  will  boaro  yon  ont, — 
Ar  take  this  payment  on  thy  shaggyo  crowne/* 
a  blow   that  brought     him   wtth  a  yengcance 

dow[ne]. 


Then  Ony  sett  f<)ot  vpcm  the  monsters  brost,  uS*'*'** 

i'*S         d  fnnn  hirt  HhouKlerH  did  his  hi*2ul  devvdi*. 

w/ifcli  m/th  a  yawniii^a»  mouth  d'ul  f^iju'  vnhlcst, — 
n»K*  dratroiiH  Iuwi*H  wfix*  c*ikt  sifiio  sch'  wvdr 

t*»  opt»n  A  to  hhiit, — till  lifle  wiis  spent. 
:;'.    Mjf  Gov  tookf  Kryes,  &  to  the  castle  went, 

WTiero  manye  woefull  cantiui*s  he  did  funl,  •rt-frwhn 

w/i.'ch  had  Intne  tyred  wi'th  rxtreinitye, 
whom  he  in  ffriMiidly  manner  did  vnbiiiti, 
;*/>         A  reakMim-<l  w/th  them  of  tlirir  miserj-r. 
wh«*  ti»hi  a  tale  w/th  tran's  A  si'^'his  A'  rrvcM, 
all  Wi\-|»iiig  to  him  w/th  comphuiiiiiii*;  cyt's. 


'•*. 


il— I*  *  be  wrapoO'pruof.-   I*  ■  Im'Ihm/. V, 


142 


GUTE  AND   AHABANT. 


some,  ladies 


who  had 
been  fed  on 
their  dead 
loveraand 
huabands, — 


and  the 
palmer's 
fifteen  sons, 


who  were 
like  the 
pictures  of 
Death. 


Ony  restores 
the  palmer 
his  sons, 


gives  him 
the  giant's 
castle, 


There  tender  Laidyes  in  darke  dnngeon*  lay, 
164        that  were  snrprised  in  the  desart  wood, 

&  had  noo  other  dyett  enerye  day 

then  flesh  of  humane  creatures  for  their  food ; 

some  with  their  loners  bodyes  had  beene  fed, 
168    &  in  their  wombes  '  their  husbands  buryed. 

Now  he  bethinkes  him  of  his  being  there, 

to  enlarge  they*  wronged  Brethren  from*   their 
w[oes;] 
&  as  he  searcheth,  doth  great  clamors  heare ; 
172       by  w^u;h  sad  sounds  direction,  on  he  goes 
vntill  he  Andes  a  darkesome  obscure  gate, 
armed  strongly  ouer  all  with  Iron  plate : 

That  ^  he  ynlockes,  and  enters  where  appeares 
176        the  strangest  obiect  t?iat  he  euer  saw, 
men  that  with,  famishment  of  many  yeerres 

will  ^  were  like  deaths  picture,  w^tch  the  painters 
dra[w;] 
diners  of  them  were  hanged  by  eche  thumbe ; 
180   others,  head  downeward  ;  by  the  middle,  summe.^ 

With  dilligence  he  takes  them  from  the  walls, 
with  lybertye  their  thraldome  to  accquainte. 
then  the  perplexed  Knight  the  father  calls, 
184        &  sayes,  "  receiue  thy  sonnes,  thoe  poore  &  faint ! 
I  promised  you  their  lines  ;  eccept  of  that^; 
but  did  not  promise  you  th6  shold  be  fatt. 

"  The  castle  I  doe  g^ue  thee, — ^heere  is  the  Keyes, — 
188        where  tyranye  for  many  yeeres  did  dwell ; 
procure  the  gentle  tender  Ladyes  ease ; 


»  Only  half  of  the  first  n  in  the  MS. 
— F. 

«  ?  MS.  wombers.— F. 

•  the.— P. ' 

*  There  is  something  like  a  blotched  o 
before  the  r  in  the  MS.— F. 


•  Then.— -P. 

•  delend.— P. 

'  some. — P.  The  0,  and  last  stroke  of 
the  ftif  have  been  cut  off  by  the  binder. 
— F. 

•  accept  of  that — ^P. 


GUY£  AND   AMARANT. 


143 


for  pittye  sake  vse  wronged  women  well ! 
men  may  easilje  revenge  the  deeds  men  doe, 
192   but  poore  weakc  women  hane  no  strenght  therto.'* 


andcharf^es 
him  to  UM 
the  womcQ 
vrelL 


196 


The  good  old  man,  enen  ouerioyed  with  this, 

fell  on  the  gronnd,  &  wold  hane  kist  Guys  fee[t.] 

"  &ther,"  quoth  hee,  "  refiraine  soe  base  a  kissc  ! 
for  ago  to  honor  youth,  I  hold  vnmeete ; 

ambitious  pryd  hath  hurt  me  all  it  can, 

I  goe  to  mortifie  a  sin^ill  man."         ffins. 


Ony  rcfnsfSB 
to  let  the 
palmer  kisa 
hiBfeet. 


144 


The  allusions  in  these  lines  are  principally  to  well-known 
incidents  in  the  reign  of  Charles  L,  most  of  which  occurred 
between  1625  and  1630. 

"  Cales,"  of  course,  means  "  Cadiz ; "  and  the  expeditions  of 
Viscount  Wimbledon  to  that  place  in  1625,  of  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham  to  Sh^  in  1627,  and  of  the  Earl  of  Denbigh  to 
Bochelle  in  1628 — all  failures — ^are  commemorated  in  lines  1,  2, 
and  3.  Line  4  alludes  to  the  grant  of  five  subsidies  made  on 
the  concession  of  the  Petition  of  Right ;  lines  6,  8,  and  9,  refer 
to  the  death  of  Buckingham.  The  peace  with  Spain,  mentioned 
in  line  7,  was  proclaimed  on  the  5th  of  December,  1630.  Lines  9 
to  12  commemorate  the  recent  passing  of  the  Petition  of  Bight^ 
which  took  place  on  the  5th  of  June,  1628,  Of  lines  17  to  24  I 
take  the  meaning  to  be :  "  Do  not  meddle  with  the  hierarchy  for 
fear  of  the  Inquisition,  that  is,  the  Star  Chamber,  where  thou 
shalt  find  a  crop-ear  doom,  cries  Leighton."  The  allusion  is  to  the 
dreadful  sentence  inflicted  on  Dr.  Alexander  Leighton,  a  portion 
of  which  was  that  he  should  have  "  one  of  his  ears  cut  off,  and 
his  nose  slit,  and  be  branded  in  the  face."  (State  Trials,  voL  iii. 
p.  385.) 

Line  25  alludes  to  the  King's  commission  for  extracting  fines 
from  those  who,  having  402.  a  year  in  lands,  did  not  attend  at  the 
coronation  to  be  knighted.  Lines  26  to  30  refer  to  the  case  of 
Walter  Long,  sheriff  of  Wilts,  who  was  fined  2,000  marks  for 
absenting  himself  from  his  county  to  attend  his  duty  in  parlia- 
ment.    {State  Trials^  vol.  iii.  p.  235.) 

'  A  kind  of  State  Satire  on  the  abuses  in  Charles  1!*  time— very  obscure. — P. 


CALI8  TOTAGI.  145 

to  37  rclut«  to  a  speech  of  Sir  Dudley  CarletoD  in  the 
«f  GaanmoiM  in  1628,  in  which  be  warned  the  House  of 
ft  of  pivftunentii  in  foreign  countries,  where  they  had  beeD 
by  tnon«rchB  aa  soon  as  they  began  to  know  their 
•«■  itrenKth.  Hrnc«>,  he  continued,  the  misery  of  the  people  on 
Ae  cantiopnt,  w)to  look  like  ghosts  and  not  men,  being  nothing 
Va  doQ  and  boDcw,  with  some  thin  cover  to  their  nakedneast  and 
•taring  only  wikhU-d  ehoee  on  their  feet  Ruahtrorth,  toL  1. 
f.  359.  Vhitelockc  labetitutee  "  canvas  clothes"  for  the  thfai 
eevcring,  p.  6.     Both  ngree  in  the  wooden  slioes. 

TW  alluaioQ  in  tht.-  dosiiig  lines,  39  and  40,  is  to  the  Lord 
Chief  Joitioe  Treailian,  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  He  was  one 
if  that  King's  *nil  Bilvisers,  was  impeached  by  parliament,  found 
fiflty  of  treasoo,  ant)  hanged  at  lybnni ' — ^which  may  be  sud  to 
he  the  niflcal  of  tliiii  puem.  J.  BircK. 


K- 


AtT  calM  wee  latelye  made  afray, 
sU  Da  of  R4M  ■  wee  nm  away, 
oar  ilu'ppM  jfoore  Bochell  did  betray. 
A  sabaiddjeB  for  that, 

And  thm  wn  shall  to  nea  againe, 
all  (Ant  *  UBT  generall  was  slaine, 
A  BOW  wee  hane  made  peace  with  spaine, 
lacke  Sell  ton  ! 


Sd' Arti^l  grand  Torto*  slew;  (iafi*w] 

•««  rorrre  roan  moat  have  hts  dew 
by  wrtoc  of  a  graciona  new  PMHaagi 

If  i'vliiion  of  right.  wt»t'» 

•  IMMmI  Amw  ami  &my;  ad.       At  U  Rochcllc."    Parii,  KtS.— F. 
*M^  wiLLB.tn.4S*.  ■  AKW  or  Albait.— P. 

_     '  W  Hue  LmmtWi   "  U  ehuM  •  8m  tkwrc^i  F>>T  Qdmo.— P. 

^^  U.  L 


146 


CALES  TOTAOE. 


Don't  Ulk 
of  Pope 
Johns 
childmi, 


or  the 
Inquisition 
will  catch 
hold  of  yoo. 


Don't  IcftTt 
your  connty 
when  you're 
Sheriff. 


Be  dntifnlr 
or  else  you'll 
torn  French- 
men, and 
have  to  wear 
wooden 
shoes. 


Hang  bad 
oounseUers. 


The  child  of  honor  did  defiye 
In  mortall  fight  his  enemye, 
&  when  he  came  to  doe  him  djo, 
16  cryes  Sail :  Brooke. 

£leaen  children  had  Pope  lohn. 
Pope  lohn  the  twelft,  an  able  man ; 
heeres  to  the  daffe,  He  pledge  the  don, 
20  A  pnlpitt  of  sacke ! 

Noe  more  of  that,  doe  not  presomOy 
fibr  ffeare  of  the  Inquisition  at  Bomey 
where  thou  shalt  find  a  cropeare  dome, 
24  Cryes  Layston. 

Ten  ponndes  for  not  being  made  a  Knight ; 
ffiue  thousand  Markes  was  deemed  right 
for  being  out  of  his  countryes  sight 
28  In  time  o  Shreaualltrye. 

These  &  such  like,  as  I  you  tell, 
In  fayrye  land  latelye  befell, 
where  lustice  fibught  with  lustice  Cell 
32  Att  Gloster. 

Be  dutifull,  good  people  all, 
the  gouerment  else  alter  shall, 
&  bring  you  to  the  state  of  Ghbule, 
36  Haire  shirts  &  woodden  shooea ! 

Noe  habeas  corpus  shall  be  gott ; 
but  for  all  this  damned  plott 
Tresilian  went  vnto  the  pott 
40  Att  Tybume !  fins. 


14' 


Wiinst  S:  iWfller : ' 

This  copy  is  given  in  the  Reliquea  "with  corrections,"  and 
X  **  collated  with  an  old  black-letter  copy  in  the  Pepys  Collection 
intiUed  '  A  pleasant  ballad  of  K.  Henry  II.  and  the  Miller  of 
Mansfield.'  "  "There  are  copies  of  this  ballad,"  says  Mr.  Ghappell, 
who  prints  the  tune,  "in  the  Boxburghe  Collection,  vol.  i.  p.  178, 
and  p.  228 ;  in  the  Bagford  p.  25." 

"  It  has  been  a  favourite  subject,"  says  Percy,  "  with  our 
L  English  ballad-makers  to  represent  our  kings  conversing,  either 
by  accident  or  Resign,  with  the  meanest  of  their  subjects.  Of 
the  former  kind,  besides  this  song  of  the  King  and  the  Miller, 
we  have  *  K.  Henry  and  the  Soldier,'  *  K.  James  I.  and  the 
Tinker,'  •  K.  William  III.  and  the  Forester '  &c.  Of  the  latter 
sort  are  '  K.  Alfred  and  the  Shepherd,'  *  K.  Edward  IV.  and 
the  Tanner,'  '  K.  Henry  VII.  and  the  Cobbler '  &c." 

"  The  earliest  of  these  stories,"  says  Professor  Child  in  his 
Introduction  to  King  Edward  Fourth  and  the  Tanner  of  Tam- 
worth,  "  seems  to  be  that  of  King  Alfred  and  the  Neatherd,  in 
which  the  herdsman's  wife  plays  the  offending  part  and  the 
peasant  himself  is  made  Bishop  of  Winchester.  Others  of  a 
very  considerable  antiquity  are  the  tales  of  Henry  II.  and  the 
Cistercian  Abbot  in  the  Speculum  Ecclesice  of  Giraldus  Cambren- 
sis  (an.  1220)  printed  in  Reliquice  Antiquce  i.  147 ;  King 
Edward  and  the  Shepherd,  and  The  King  [Edward]  and  the 
Hemiit  in  Hartshorne's  Metrical  Tales  (p.  35.  p.  293,  the  latter 
previously  in  The  British  Bibliographer  iv.  81) ;  Rauf  Coilzeary 

»  In  the  printed  Collection  of  Old  Ballads,  1727,  Vol.  i.  p.  63.  No.  VIII.— P. 

l2 


148  KINGE   AND   MILLEB. 

hcni)  he  harbreit  King  Charles  in  Laing's  Select  Remaina ;  John 
de  Reeve  ....  and  the  King  and  the  Barker,  the  original  of 
the  present  ballad." 

The  idea  of  majesty  compelled,  or  condescending  to  fraternise 
with  low  life  has  in  foreign  countries,  too,  excited  the  vulgar 
imagination.  Such  meetings  of  extremes — ^the  fellowships  of  a 
power  so  high  with  a  thing  so  low — have  proved  extremely  fasci- 
nating. And  while  the  stories  of  them  show  how  tremendous  was 
the  interval  between  the  king  and  his  poor  subjects,  they  show  also 
how  friendly  was  the  popular  conception  of  royalty.  The  king 
was  far,  far  off ;  but  he  was  kindly  and  genial.  He  could  be 
imagined  descending  from  his  supreme  height,  and  enjoying  the 
humours  of  the  humblest  and  vulgarest.  Such  descents  were  a 
kind  of  Avatars,  which  the  people  rejoiced  to  remember  and 
celebrate.  They  served  to  kindle  and  fan  their  loyal  affection ; 
to  bind  the  king  and  people,  as  showing  that  he  was  a  man  of 
like  passions  with  themselves,  not  an  alien  unsympathetic  being, 
scarcely  human. 


Si7g?r'^  HeNERY,  our  royall  King,  wold  goe  a  huntinge 

hunting.  ^  ^j^^  grecnc  fforrest  soe  pleasant  &  &yre, 

to  haue  the  harts  chased,  the  daintye  does  tripping ; 
4  to  merry  Sherwood  his  nobles  repayre  ; 

Snmd  Sf  hauke  &  hound  was  vnbotmd,  all  things  prepared 

^^  ^°*  for  the  same  to  the  game  wtth  good  regard. 

2 

The  King  All  a  loiige  somTners  day  rode  the  King  pleasantlye 

day.  8  with  all  his  princes  &  nobles  eche  one, 

chasing  the  hart  &  hind  &  the  bncke  gallantlye, 
till  the  di^rke  euening  inforced  them  tume  home. 

r°^  *him*^^if  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^'  ryding  fast,  he  had  lost  quite 

in  the  wood.    12      all  his  Lords  in  the  wood  in  the  darke  night. 


KINGS  AUD  UILLKR.  149 

3 

Wandering  Urns  wearilje  all  alono  vp  &  dowiie, 

with  a  rude  Miller  he  mett  att  the  Last,  iitilir^  * 


the  ready  way  vnto  fajro  Nottingham.  JJUlT^'SJl 

••  Sir,"  Q«oth  the  Miller,  "  I  meane  not  to  lest,  xSIiiSiir 

j«ti  I  thinke  what  I  thinke  truth  for  to  saj, 
doe  not  lightlje  goe  out  of  jour  way.*' 


4 

''Why,  what  dost  thou  thinke  of  mc?'*  Quoth  our 
Kin^  merrily, 
**pasnng  thy  iudgment  vpon '  me  soe  breefe." 
"•  good  faith,**  Quoth  the  Miller,  <*  I  mcanc  *  not  to 

flatter  thee,  ukn  tiw 

**  I  geese  thee  to  bee  some  gentleman  theefe ;  thief. 

•laad  thee  backe  in  the  darkc  !  light  not  adowne,  thmtrat  co 

lest  I  pmentlye  cracke  thy  knaues  cro[wnJe !  *'  crown. 

6 
**Thoa  doest  abuse  me  much,**   quoth   our    Ktti^, 
^  saying  thus. 
I  am  a  gentleman,  and  lodging  doc  lackc.**  .^ 

•'ihou  haMt  not,"  qji^.th   the   Miller,  "  a  groat  in  thy  *""£;*,',JJ 

all  tfainr  inhoritanci*  hantroK  on  thy  backc.** 
**  I  haue  i?(>Kl  to  diHohuriro  for  thni  I  call ; 

•^  '^  and  r«n  ptjr 

if  itl  Ijc  4/^)  jH.*ncc,  I  will  |«iy  all.'*  '••»'»*• 


6 
**  If  thou  IxK'At  a  true  man,**  tlu*n  wiid  the  Miller,  ThrMiiw 

tt         "I  sweare  bv  my  tole  ilish  lie  lixlge  thei-  all  night.**   «•-»•»  him, 

•'  Heercs  my  hand,**   qM«.th  our  Ki«i/,   **  thai   was    I   ti*«*  -^1 

ti 
eii'-r. 

'•  nay,  *uift,'*   q«i.th   the   Miller,  *'  th«m  mayst  be  a 

fcprile  ; 

brtli-r  lie  know  tlire  ere  liantU  1  will  M}iaki>;  j,,,^  ^,,^, 

U      w.th  none  but  honcHt  men  handM  will  I  take.*'  jTithLim.*'** 

•  mi  vpom.— F  •  Onljr  half  th*  «  in  the  IC8.^F. 


150 


KniGB  AND   MILLBB. 


Th^  go  into 


thsViner'i 


and  the  wif  t 
Mksiftbe 
King  is  • 
roiuiwaj. 


Where  is  his 

pMQMrt? 


Thus  thej  went  all  alonge  into  the  Mfllen  hooady 

where  thej  were  seeding  ^  of  paddings  A  sooce.* 
the  Miller  first  entered  in,  then  after  went  the  King ; 
40         neuer  came  he  in  soe  smoakje  a  honse.' 

'*  now,"  quoth  hee,  **  let  me  see  heere  what  joa  are." 
Quoth  oar  Ktn^,  "  looke  7oa[r]  fill,  A  doe  not  spare." 

8 
'*  I  like  well  thy  conntenance ;  thou  hast  an  honest 
fiM;[e] ; 
44         With  my  Sonne  Richard  this  night  thoa  shalt  Lye." 
Quoth  his  wife,  '*  by  my  troth  it  is  a  good  hansome 
yoat[h] ; 
yet  it  is  best,  husband,  to  deale  warrilye. 
art  thou  not  a  runaway  ?  I  pray  thee,  youth,  tell ; 
48     show  YS  thy  pasport  &  all  shalbe  welL" 

9 
Then  our  King  presentlye,  making  lowe  curtesie, 

With  his  hatt  in  his  hand,  this  he  did  say  : 
"  I  haue  noe  pasport,  nor  neuer  was  seruitor, 
52         but  a  poore  Courtyer  rode  out  of  the  way ; 
&  for  your  kindnesse  now  offered  to  me, 
I  will  requite  it  in  euerye  degree." 

10 
Then  to  the  Miller  his  wiffe  whisperd  secretlye, 
56         saing,  '*  it  seemeth  the  youth  is  of  good  kin 
both  by  his  apparell  &  by  his  Manners ; 

to  tume  him  out,  certainely  it  were  a  great  sin." 
"  yea,"  quoth  hee,  "  you  may  see  hee  hath  some  gprace, 
60     when  as  he  speaks  to  his  betters  in  place." 

11 
''Well,"  quoth  the  Millers  wiffe,  "younge  man,  welcome 

heer[e] ! 

&  tho  I  sayt,  well  lodged  shalt  thou  be ; 

*  seething,  boiling. — F.  well. — ^F. 

*  The  head,  feet,  and  ears  of  swine  '  See  Forewords  to  Bab$$$  Sok$,  p. 
boi'ed  and  pickled  for  eating.      Halli-      buy. — F. 


Ht  has  none, 

Mheisa 
ocnrtler. 


The  Miller 
thinke  the 
Elngbehnyei 
well  to  hie 
betters. 


KISUH    AND   HILLUL  tSI 

fr— h  atraw  I  irtU  Ut  rpon  your  bed  aoe  bisne,  mIImm^ 

good  bravBB  hidii]>eu  -heetM  likwise,"  Qitoth  ihee.  ooanv 

**  Z,"  cpK>th  ill*  gootlnLaii.  "  &  when  that  u  done,  ibHM  wfui 
Ikon  lifaftlt  Ij'e  tioo  woriH?  then  onr  owno  Bonne." 

It 
'  l?*j  first,"  quoth  Kiohard,  "good  fellowe,  tell  me 
true, 
but  thoa  not  creciH-'H  in  thj  gay  hose  F  lfu^»» 

art  tlua  not  traaliW  U'lb  the  Scabbado  *  ?  "  "iTiiiiiiii. 

**|Bsjr  juu,"  i(iiuih   tlie  Kinj/,  "wb«t  thingi  u« 
t^MoF 
•n  t^D  not  lowBje  Dfir  ocabbedF  "  qtioth  hee;  i^iiBM 

"  it  thia  twc«t,  farvly  thou  lyeat  not  m'th  me." 

IS 
TUe  CMMnd  oar  Kw^r  »u<ldenly  to  Uogh  most  hirtilye 

tin  the  Umnt  tncklo)  >lowne  &om  his  ejM. 
tk«B  to  ihtrm  mpptr  vti^'  tb^  aett  orderljrs,  n*|pa«M 

to  boM  fa«g  poddingH  ii  good  apple  pyee ;  '^''S. 

iBppf  kk^  good  A  •i«lf,  in  a  biowne  bowle,  i^  awrr 

«rlwfc  did  *bon(  the  hoed  Merrilye  tronle. 


"  Haere,"  qnvth  the  Miller,  "  good  Tellowe,  He  drinke  tiw  huiw 
to  thee  KiD(. 

A  to  all  the  conrtnolli  Ihat  cnrteous  bee." 
"I  pledge   thee,"   qvoth  onr   Ki'n^,  "A   thaoke  thee  untteKi^ 
heartilje 
tar  mj  good  welcome  in  eaer^e  degree  ; 
A  here  in  like  manner  I  drinke  to  thy  sonne."  ■>'  Uiim. 

"  doe  then,"  ttiee  Richan/,  "  A,  quicke  let  it  come." 

15 
"  Wifle,"  qiuTtb  tbe  Miller,  "  feitch  mc  forth  ligbtfoote,    n*  muiit 
(Aat  wee  of  hii  tweetncMe  a  litle  may  laat."  Ucbugcn. 

■  &ire  TOuon  pa*tye  ahee  fcicbcd  forth  prcaentlye. 

'  MIL  May  b*  Sealkado.    8— TonwnrAa  to  Baitt  Bait,  ItU,  p.  Mv.—T. 


152 


KHIGE  AND   IflLLXB. 


The  King 

Uknit 

itntnimiply. 


88        "  eate,"  quoth  the  Miller  "  bat  first  make  noe  wast ; 
heer  is  dainty  Lightfoote."   "  infidth,"  quoth  our 
*'  I  neuer  before  eate  of  soe  dajntye  a  thinge." 


Wbtrecan 
htbnyMiiM? 


It's  the 
Xing'idear 
tnox 
Sherwood. 


Don^tteU 
him. 


Certainlj 
not,  layi 
the  King. 


Next 

morning  the 
nobles 


find  the  King 
at  the 
HiUer's 
house, 
and  fall  on 
their  kneee 
before  him. 


92 


96 


100 


16 

"  Iwifl,*'  said  Richard,  '*  noe  dajntye  att  all  it  is, 

for  wee  doe  eate  of  it  eueiye  day." 
"  in  what  place,"  sayd  oar  Ktn^,  '^  may  be  booght  lik 
toth[is?]" 

"  wee  neaer  pay  peennye  for  it,  by  my  fey ; 
from  merry  Sherwood  wee  feitch  it  home  heero ; 
now  Si  then  we  make  bold  wtth  oar  Kings  deere." 

17 
"  Then  I  thinke,"  qttoth  oar  King,  "  that  it  is  Venison." 

**  eche  foole,"  qiioth  Richard,  '*  fall  well  may  see  tJiat ; 
nener  are  we  without  2  or  8  in  the  rooffe, 

yerry  well  fleshed  &  ezellent  fiatt. 
but  I  pray  thee  say  nothing  where-ere  thoa  goe, 
we  wold  not  for  2  pence  the  King  shold  it  know." 

18 
"  doubt  not,"  saies  *  our  King,  "  my  promised  secresye ; 
104       the  King  shall  neuer  know  more  ont  for  mee." 
a  cupp  of  lambes  woole  *  they  dranke  ynto  him, 

&  to  their  bedds  th6  past  presentlye. 
the  Nobles  next  Morning  went  all  vp  &  downe 
108   for  to  seeke  the  King  in  euerye  towne; 

19  CXMg«S87] 

At  last,  att  the  Miller's  house  soone  th^  did  spye  him 

plaine, 
as  he  was  mounting  vpon  his  feire  steede ; 
to  whome  th6  came  presentlye,  felling  downe  on  their 

knees. 


»  MS.  saiy.— F. 

*  A  favourite  liquor  among  the  com- 
XDon  people,  composed  of  ale  and  roasted 


apples;  the  pulp  of  the  roasted  apple 
worked  up  with  the  ale,  tUl  the  mixture 
formed  a  smooth  berenige.    Nares,—- F. 


tntam   AMD    IIILLBB.  109 

Ot       wAich  iBftde  tlio  UiQsn  hftrt  wofdllys  blaed.  iwioto 

Sli>kiD|f  A  qoAkiii^  befora  him  he  stood,  hm^ 

tfiiftliipg  ho  ihold  ba  lunged  by  ths  nx>d. 

M 

TW  K^idk]  ifrrwhiinft  bim  feuftdly  tmnblings,  ^^^ 

ll«       drvw  fonb  hit  tword,  bnt  notbing  be  nid ;  mwma. 

tW  SCnia-  tluwiir  ilid  bll  CTTuig  before  tbem  all,  y^  kdiv 

dmbtai^ '  tb«  Ktny  wold  cnt  of  bit  be«d.  imiL 
tau  hi^  bia  kintl  mrtene  for  to  requite, 

■at  ^a*  biiB  great  liuiag,  &  dnbd  him  a  Knight.  ^^^r 

91 

WImb  m  oar  noble  King  came  from  Notttngam, 

A  with  bia  noblea  in  weitminster  Laj,  Atw—- 

TCBOontiBg  the  aporta  &  the  paatime  thj  bad  tana  lewM^ 

IM  IB  thia  hte  pragreeae  along  on  the  way ; 
d  then  alt,  great  A  nnall,  bee  did  prateat 
As  Makr  of  Haoafetld  liked  him  beet ; 

M 

"AmA  now,  mj  Lorrfe,"  quoth  the  Sing,  "I  am  d^   iteKbt 


t  St-  Georges  next  samptnons  feast,  Mnsy 

tltat  thia  old  Miller,  our  yoangcHt  confirmed  Kn^At, 

with  bia  aonne  Richard,  ahalbe  both  my  gneat ; 
for  in  this  merryment  it  ia  my  desire 
to  talke  wt'th  this  loUye  Kitt'^At  A  (he  yoange  sqnier." 

S3 

When  as  the  Noble  Lords  saw  the  Kih^  merriment, 

th{  were  right  loyfall  A  glad  in  their  harts, 
a  Pnrainant  tb^  sent  straight  on  this  boaines,  V™^(  t, 

the  wAicb  oftentimes  vsed  those  ports.  S'larii. 

whan  he  came  to  the  place  where  ho  did  dwell,  ""^ 

His  maasagv  merrily  e  then  ho  did  tell. 

■  b*r>Pff.-P- 


154 


KINOE   AND   MIIXEH. 


which  1m 
delivers  in 
dne  form. 


24 

''  Qod  sane  jour  worsliippey"  then  said  the  messengery 
140        '*  &  grant  jour  Ladye  '  her  owne  harts  desire ; 

&  to  your  Sonne  'Richard  good  fortune  &  happinesse, 
that  sweet  jounge  gentleman  &  gallant  sqnier  ! 

our  King  greets  you  well,  &  thus  doth  saj, 
144    '  yon  must  come  to  the  court  on  St.  Georges  day  * ; 


▲t  lint  the 
Killer  is 
half  Afraid, 


traton 
hearing  of 
the  feast 


25 

"  Therfore  in  any  case  &yle  not  to  be  in  place." 
"  I- wis,"  qwoth  the  Miller,  "  it  is  an  odd  lest ! 
what  shold  wee  doe  there  P  "  he  sayd,  "infedth  I  am 
halfe  afraid." 
148        *'  I  doubt,"  qttoth  Richard,  '*  to  be  hanged  att  the 
least." 
'*  nay,"  quoth,  the  Messenger,  '*  you  doe  mistake ; 
our  King  prepares  a  great  feast  for  your  sake." 


gives  the 
pnrsaiYant 
three 
farthings. 


26 

"Then,"  said  the  Miller,  "now  by  my  troth,  Mes- 
senger, 
152       thou  hast  contented  my  worshipp  ftill  well : 

hold !  there  is  3  farthings  to  quite  thy  great  gentleness 

for  these  happy  tydings  w^u;h  thou  dost  me  tell, 
let  me  see  !  hearest  thou  me  P  tell  to  our  King, 


and  promises  ]56    weele  wayte  on  his  Mastershipp  in  eu6rye  thing. 


» 


160 


The 

porsnirant 
reports  all 
to  the  King. 


27 

The  pursivant  smyled  at  their  simpliciiye ; 

&  making  many  '  leggs,  tooke  their  reward, 
&  takeing  then  his  leaue  with  great  humilitye, 

to  the  KingB  court  againe  hee  repayred, 
showing  vnto  his  grace  in  euerye  degree 
the  Knighta  most  liberall  gifPbs  &  great  bountye. 


>  ?  MS.  Ladyes.— F. 


*  Only  half  the  n  in  the  MS.— F. 


KlXiK  A.ND   UIU.KR. 


kWH}',  tbiu  0M>  the  Ifiller  uf, 

&  chargea  indeed !  n*  mhw 

bt)  bnoe,  (bo  wee  epeod  all  wea  C?^'* 


At*  of  new  ganaenU  wee  haoe  great  need. 
if  bwi  A  aervuig  men  wee  moat  haoe  itore, 
IN   wMt  bridlaa  A  aidlra  &  l:<)'^  thiscn  nunv." 


"IWw,  Bir  lohn/'qwiUi  his  wiffe,  "neither  doe  &et(  HbwUi 

onr  frowno !  Ub. 

yvm  ahaU  boo  att  ncH<  more  chargea  of  mee ! 

far  I  will  tamo  i  trim  vji  my  old  roaeett  gowne,  n^n  Htai 

ITS        With  oDi^e  tiling  niw  aa  fine  aa  maj  bee;  Zihn, 

*  aa  our  Mill  lM>rM«'«  full  awift  wee  will  lyd,  "<*2f> 

wUh  pilimrca  A  pwuielJB  ■■  wee  ahall  proTjde."  MlTl^nriM 

no 
la  Uda  moal  ilaldje  wrt  thi  rod  nto  the  oonrt,  Tfc»^y 

m       their  hiaty  aonne  BicbanI  formoat  of  aQ, 

who  aett  Tp  bjr  good  hap  a  cockea  fether  in  hia  cappe  ; 

ft  aoe  th^  iett«d  downe  towards  the  Kings  hall, 
the  llcrrj  old  Uiller  with  his  hands  on  hiB  side, 
lao    hia  wifle  like  Maid  Uarryan  did  Mince  at  that  tyde. 

31 
The  Kiitj  h  his  noblea  thai  bard  of  their  coming, 

meeting  this  gallant  Kni'if/it  with  this  brane  traine, 
"welcome.  Sir  KntV/At,"  qu"th  heo,  "wi'th  this  your   n*Bii^ 
gay  Udy !  £27" 

l»«        good  Sir  lohn  Cockle,  once  welcome  againe  ; 
ft  KM  is  thia  aqnier  of  courage  soe  free  1 " 
QMoth  dicke,  "  abotts  on  yon  !  doo  yon  know  me  F  " 

91 

Qw^th  fMi  ILinij  gentlye,  "  how  aliall  I  forgett  thee  P       a^  •«■ 
IM       tboB  waat  my  owne  bed-fellow  ;  well  tkai  I  wot,  u^h* 


156 


KHCGB  A5D   WLLBB. 


TlMKinc 
muiliw.ii 

CO 


bat  I  doe  thinke  on  m  tricke ;  tell  me,  pray  thee,  dicke, 

how  witb  &rtiiig  we  made  the  bed  hott." 
^  thoa  horson  hmppr  knane,**  the[n]  quoth  the  KnigJitj 
19S    *^speake  ckmnlT  to  onr  [king  now,]  or  else  goe  shite !  *' 

The  king  and  his  counceUors  haitilye  Lmgh  at  this, 

while  the  Kimg  tooke  them  bj  the  hand. 
With   Ladves  &   their  maids,  like  to  the  (^ueene  of 
spades 
19«        the  Millers  wifie  did  most  orderlje  stand ; 
a  milkemaids  cnrtesYe  at  eaerye  word, 
&  downe  these  folkes  were  set  to  the  bord,  ; 


•nd  after 


drinks  ut 
tte  Miller, 


and  wants 
some  of  bis 
Tcnison. 


He  asks 
Richanito 
pledge  him. 

Dick  says  he 
must  flnL«h 
his  dinner 
first; 

he  wants  a 

black 

podding, 


34 

Where  the  Kin^  roTallv  with  prinoelj  Maiestye 
900       sate  at  his  dinner  wi'th  loj  &  delight. 

when  he  had  eaten  well,  to  resting  then  hee  fell ; 
taking  a  bowle  of  wine,  dranke  to  the  Knt^^t, 

" heeres  to  jou  both  !  *'  he  sajd,  ''in  ale,  wine,  &  beere, 
204    ♦banking  you  hartilye  for  all  my  good  cheere." 

35 

Quoth  Sir  lohn  Cockle,  '*  He  pledge  yon  a  pottle, 
were  it  the  best  ale  in  Nottingam-shire." 
bat  then,"  said  our  Ki'n^,  '^  I  thinke  on  a  thinge, 
some  of  your  lightfoote  I  wold  we  had  heere.*' 
ho  :  ho  :  "  Quoth  Bichari,  ''  full  well  I  may  say  it ; 

its  knauerye  to  eate  it  &  then  to  bewray  it." 

36 
**  What !  art  thou  hungry  ?  "  quoth  our  Kin^  merrilye, 
218        '^  infaith  I  take  it  verry  vnkind ; 

I  thought  thou   woldest  pledg  me  in  wine  or  ale 
heartil[y.]  " 
"yee  are  like   to  stay,'*  quoth  Dicke,  'Hill  I  haue 
dind; 
you  feed  ts  with  twatling  dishes  soe  small. 
216   zounds !  a  blacke  pudding  is  better  then  alL*' 


208 


ii 


(( 


UXGE  ARD  HILLIB.  iJ 

97 
**  1,  inftrT7, "  (|  II 'tb  onr  Kinjf ,  "f  Aat  were  a  dAintys  thing, 

if  wM  cqM  ^«tt  one  heere  for  to  ekte." 
with  Udt,  ilicki)  rtntight  anMe,  A  plnoket  one  ont  of  ^p^^ 

hul>[0M<.]  STm 

wiieh  wilt)  lient  of  hu  breech  beg&n  for  to  eweftte. 
tbe  Ki'n^  maiK'  profer  to  inmtch  it  mmj ;  "it^im 

"  iu  meu«  Tor  yoitr  Uariar,  good  Sir,  70a  Bh*!!  etftj  1 "  mtS^m 

3S 

Tbaa  wMlignM  merriment  WH  the  time  I  wtuAjKptaii 

A  then  thf  I^jee  propkred  to  dance. 

old  Sir  lohn  *  Cockle  A  Bichani  incontinent  ^^  — -, 

Toto  tbie  pmctiae  the  K.iny  did  vlTsnce,  Sm«ii 

wbare-irith  the  Lttdjea  nich  eport  th^  did  make,  i^tMm 

I   the  Nobles  with  laughing  did  make  their  head*  ake.  £■!£ 

sg 
Ifanf  tbaakee  for  their  painee  the  King  did  gioe  them 


2rss 

wUubMr 


■aking  fonng  Richard  if  he  wold  be  wed : 
**  ammgat  theae  ladyea  fatre,  t«Il  me  wAich  liketh  thee." 

QwTth  bee,  "  Ingg  ammball  with  the  red  head  ; 
•beea  my  loae ;  iheea  my  Ufle ;  her  will  I  wed ; 
•hee  bath  tworne  I  ahall  banc  her  maidenhead." 


Then  Sir  lohn  Cockle  the  K/iir)  called  vnto  him  ; 

A  of  lleny  aherwood  made  him  onerseer,  mmtm 

ft  gaae  him  ont  of  hand  3001  yearlye,  am 

"bntnow  take  heedeyoQst«a1enoemoreofmjdeere!  udn 
ft  once  a  qnarter  leta  heare  hane  your  rew ;  »ti  ■ 

I    ft  thna.  Sir  lohn  Cockle,  1  bid  thee  adew  !  " 


["  Pamclu,"  prinUd  m  Lo.  and  Hnm.  Songa,  i>.  61,/oUmei  Wa 
M  (iU  MS.) 


158 


aiffmcourte  BattelL^ 

Agincourt  must  have  been  a  tempting  theme  to  the  ballad* 
writer  and  poet  of  its  day.  The  splendid  pluck  with  which  the 
little  English  aimy,  wasted  by  dysentery,  ill-fed,  and  harassed  by 
long  marches  and  hostile  skirmishers,  nevertheless  went  at  its 
enemies,  facing  the  terrible  odds  of  more  than  six  to  one,  and 
put  to  ignominious  rout  the  vaunting  knights  of  France,  must 
have  appealed  to  the  English  heart  and  the  English  pride,  and 
ought  to  have  been  worthily  sung.  The  ballad-writer  especially 
was  bound  to  take  it  up,  for  the  class  he  wrote  for  led  the  van 
and  won  the  field.  As  at  Crecy,  as  at  Poictiers,  so  at  Agincourt, 
the  English  yeomen  humbled  the  gentlemen  of  France.  Like 
the  fefw  cVenfer  of  our  rifles  at  Inkerman,  the  hail  of  yeomen's 
arrows  gained  England  honour  in  the  olden  hard-fought  field. 
But  though  at  Agincourt  the  rout  of  the  first  division  of  the 
French  army  was  due  solely  to  our  bowmen,  against  the  second, 
squire  and  knight,  noble  and  king  did  well  their  part  too — none 
better  than  the  Harry  who  said  *'  We  will  not  losb,**  and  gave 
the  battle  lastingly  the  name  of  AzincouH,  To  the  valour  of 
all  was  due  the  flight  of  the  French  third  division,  which, 
though  more  than  double  the  number  of  the  English  host, 
feared  to  face  their  arrows  and  their  swords,  and  gallopped  oflF 
the  field.  That  "the  people  of  England  were  literally  mad 
with  joy  and  triumph  "  at  the  victory — rushing  into  the  sea  to 
meet  Henry,  and  carrying  him  on  shore  on  their  shoulders — 
we  do  not  wonder ;  but  it  is  somewhat  odd  that  no  better 
ballad  or  poem  on  the  battle  should  have  come  down  to  us, 
though  in  a  play  Sbakspeare  has  done  it  justice.  The  ballads 
known  to  me  are  only — 

■  In  the  printed  Collection  of  Old  Ballads,  1 726,  toI.  ii.  p.  79,  No.  ziL 


AtllNCOCRTK    BATTKI.L. 


159 


1  Deo  ifratuts,  Angliu,  redde  pii>  victoria!  printed  by 

I  bii  Bdique*.  vol.  ii.  p.  24,  "  from  a  MS.  copy  iu  the 

|[9olltx:tioa,  vol.  i.,  folio,"  aud  to  which  thp  musical  iioten 

t  M&  ue  given  in  vol.  ii.  p.  24  uf  the  eecund  edition  of 

I  Biliqvtm.     %  Tbu  pn-Knt  cupj,  b&Wn){  seven  stanzas  more 

tn,  but  boini;  otbcrwiw  nearly  the  name  m,  tbat  in  tbe  ('rows 

I'OariatidofGiiMcD  Kimh-sc^-  l-'>^i)(p.69ofthrPt-r(7SoG.reprint), 

'  (  CoUtriivn  of  Ol'l  HaUiuU,  1726-38,  vol.  ii.  p.  79,  No,  lii.; 

nu,  vot.  ii.  p.  3.'.l,  itc     3.  Tlic  Thrrr  Af(m'«  Song^—tar  tie 

tof  tb«  lot, — Ibc  firBi  vewe  of  which  im  i)iiijl4sj  in  llerwood'i 

■fm^AftranY/r.  r<l.  16lM)(p.  52  of  the  .ShnlcKpcrc  Soc.  r^nt), 

■■ad  the  whole  of  which  a  prints  from  a  black-Mu-r  copy  (about 

|]M5.  Mr.  Cillier  lolU  me)  in  <?ollifr*s  Shakfpere.  fd.  1H58,  vol. 

~~i.  ]k  SW-     Its  title  tH  *'  Agin  Court,  or  tho  RnjfliiiU  llowman's 

*~~     "*  to  a  pletuiant  new  Tunc.     I>iudun,  printed  for  Hrnry 

r  in  8uilii6c'd.     It  is  a  brtjad^idf,  and  confainjt  devcn 

isaik      It  l>egins  "Aji^ncourt!  Agiucmirt!    Know 

I  Agincourl?"     4.  The  ballad  Xo.  2Hf>  in  the  Hulliwrll 

SoOeeCion  in  rhetbam'n  Lihrar)-,  Manchester,  entitled,  "  King 

Beni7  V.,  hi*  t'noqm^^t  of  France  in   Kevenjje  for  the  Atfn>nt 

Bflered  by  tbe  French  Kinj*  in  sending  him  instead  of  the  Tribute 

■  Tna  of  Tennis  llalls."      It  In-gins,  '■  As  our  King  lay  musing  on 

' '»  U«] ; "  and  two  versions  different  from  it  nnd  trom  one  another 

1  Ipven  in  J\'iWafl,  Appi-ndlx,  p.    78,  and   p.   HO,  ed.   1832. 

JTU   C'iim6ro-Brt((M*'s   BalUtd  of   Agineunri,   by   3Jichaet 

r»tliKi,  ib.  p.  83.    Noa.  3  and  4  «iU  bo  printed  it  the  end  of 

■  volume. 

Of  Poem*,  tbcr*  wo : 

.  That  attributed  to  tydpitc.  in  three  Poiviu,  in  HarL  MS. 
165,  r>il.  liKf~I4,  bt'tfinnin^  '■(■nd  )ial  alle  |)m  wortd  gan  make," 
1  printed  aroimg  the  llhurtratioDM  of  Tht  Ckroniets  of  LonttoHt 
V  lMi7,  and  in  .Vu-odw,  p.  301-29.  ff.  "  The  Sii^  uf  Har- 
rt,  &  Hntnyl  nf  Atjrncvttrt,  by  K.  Hen.  5:"  another  copy 
T  iydgiiTr'-  ],i"-rri.  v-i\.  Nicoliu  (p.  SlU  >,  but  differing  from  it 
■  ncCt-iKwy  III  print  It  an  noU-«  to  tha 
;  ib<>  olhi^r.  It  wa«  prinlnl  br  Hcamfi 
i  iif  UliiihniH'a  Li/f!  nf  Hi-nrif  \'.,  fn>m 

; .       AI.S.,ViU;ItMu  U.xiilfoL2U  b.     F.itmcta 

vKiveo  hy  NiculUtp-  301-29. 

I  fiatayll  of  Korngecoaft,  and  the  great  Sege  of 
.  Imjvyntvd  bv  John  Skot  [about  I33()  A.n.).  fte. 
I  In  yintas,»aA  in  Mr.  W.  C.  ilaziitt's  Rannint  o/  rA« 


I 


160  AGIXCOURTE   BATTBLL. 

Early  Popular  Poetry  of  England,  vol.  ii,  p.  88-1 08.       is, 
says  Nicolas  ( App.  p.  69), "  merely  another,  though  a  very  differen 
vei*8ioii  of  the  one  "  attributed  to  Lydgate. 

2.  Drayton's  Battaile  of  Agincovrt,  1627.  (Besides  The  Lay 
of  Agincourty  Edinburgh,  1819  (a  very  poor  performance),  and 
possibly  other  modern  productions.) 

Of  Dramas,  we  find  : 

1.  The  Famous  Victories  of  Henry  the  Fifth  :  Containing  the 
Honourabell  Battell  of  Agin-court:  as  it  was  plaide  by  the 
Queene's  Maiesties  Players.  London,  Printed  by  Thomas 
Creede,  1598,  4to,  26  leaves.     Bodleian.     (Malone).* 

2.  The  Chronicle  History  of  Henry  the  Fift,  With  his  Battell 
fought  at  Agin  Court  in  France.  Togither  with  auncient  Pis- 
toll.     1600  :  the  first  cast  of  Shakspere's  Henry  F.* 

In  prose,  a  full  and  admirable  account  of  the  battle,  with  con- 
temporary accoimts  and  plentiful  extracts  from  historians,  is  given 
by  Sir  Nicholas  Harris  Nicolas  in  his  History  of  the  Battle  of 
Agincourt^  and  of  the  Expedition  of  Heniy  V.  into  France  in 
1415,  (2nd  ed.,  1832;  3rd,  1838);  and  from  this  book  it  may 
be  worth  while  just  to  run  through  the  points  of  our  ballad,  and 
see  how  far  they  are  borne  out  by  facts.  The  Council  of  line  1, 
Nicolas  thinks  was  the  parliament  which  met  in  November  1514, 
which  elected  Chaucer's  son  Thomas  its  Speaker,  and  voted  the 
King  supplies  for  the  defence  of  the  kingdom  of  England  and 
the  safety  of  the  seas.  But  it  may  have  been  a  smaller  Council, 
no  doubt  held  before  the  Commission  of  the  31st  of  May, 
1514,  absurdly  claiming  the  French  crown,  was  issued  to  the 
Bishops  of  Durham  and  Norwich,  the  Earl  of  Salisbury,  Richard 
Lord  Grey,  &c. — whom  Monstrelet  calls  le  CorrUe  d^Ov/reet, 
oncle  du  Roy  d^Angleterre^  le  Comte  de  Gh*ez,  VAd/miral 
d'Angletei^re,  lee  Eueaquea  du  Dumelin  et  de  Nomegue,  et 
plusieura  autrea  iusques  au  nombre  de  six  cens  cheuaux  ou 
environ  (vol.  i.  p.  216,  ed.  1595) — and  who  were  so  hospitably 
entertained  in  Paris.     The  great  Council  at  which  the  arrange- 

■  Hazlitt's  Handbook.  '  Bohn*8  Lowndes,  p.  22S0,  coL  2. 


AGINCOUUTE   BATTELL.  1G1 

mentM  for  the  expedition  were  made  wan  held  at  Wentininsier  on 
three  soocessive  days,  April  16,  17,  18,  a.  d.  1415,  directly  after 
the  despatch  of  Henry's  second  letter  to  Charles. 

Hie  ftory  of  the  scornful  treatment  of  the  ambassadors  in 
L  16-28  is  belied  by  Monstrelet's  account  of  the  vioult  iioUible 
f*M€  dedans  Paris  en  boyres,  manyerSj  joustes^  dances  et  autres 
tJbatemenSy  at  which  the  English  ambassadors  were  present ; 
lod  there  seems  no  foundation  whatever  for  the  present  of  tlie 
tdmis  balls,  which  would  have  gone  directly  counter  to  the 
French  King^s  policy,  letters,  and  interest.  But  still  his  young  son 
maj  baTe  been  saucy,  and  have  sent  a  saucy  message  to  Henry. 
The  fftorj  was  believed  to  be  true  at  the  time  or  soon  after;  it 
i*  ineoti<*Ded  by  Elmham  in  his  Ijatin-verse  life  of  Henry  V ' 
ttb«^gb  not  in  his  prose  life),  and  a  long  account  of  it  is  given 
in  a  middle  fifteenth-century  Cotton  MS.  (Claudius  A.  viii.) 
vkicb  Sir  H«  Nicolas  prints,  and  which,  as  I  had  to  refer  to  it 
to  correct  his  cornet  to  the  MS.  ifcorne^  I  add  here  too : 

And  than  the  dolphinc  of  Frannco  aunswercHl  to  our  embassatonrs, 
%xA  taid  in  tliis  nuuicT,  *■  that  tlie  k^'ng  was  oner  yong  and  to  tender 
if  m^  to  make  any  wurre  ay  ens  liyni,  aiul  wus  not  lyke  yet  to  Ik? 
:.  •.  IT* ""I  wt-rrioiin'  to  »I«m)  ami  to  rimke  siirhi"  a  (vnujueKt  there  V|M)n 

•  ••  ni.  And  Miniwliat  in  M'onu*  and  <li«»pit4*  lie  st-nte  to  hvra  a  t«)nne 
i  .\\'  «»f  ti'nVH  1  Willi**,  lH*-caii*ii*  he  wt)Me  haue  smne-what  for  to  play 
■  tAAlU  f'T  hviu  and  for  hin  lnnlis«  and  that  lx>-ranie  hvin  Ix'tter  than 
^•  uiayntayn  any  Wfire.  And  than  unone  oiire  lordes  that  wiis 
t- .^iM/iAatouni  token  hir  hue  and  eonien  in  to  KnLcland  ayenne,  and 
:.  !  i»-  thf  kyn^  and   hi?*  eoiin<*eilh   of  the  vnpH»dly  aiinswer  that  they 

^!  «»f  the  lK>l|>hyi<,  and  of  the  pre>rnt  the  whieli*  he  IiimI  wnt  vnt4) 
:   -    kvniT-     And  wlian  >'  kvntr  l»:»d  lianl  her  wonli«*,  and  the  answere 

•  :;*t-  iKilpynne,  he  wa**  woudn-  si»n.'  ULTfiuth  and  ri^ht*  eiielh-  a|)4i\d 

'.■  n^rlt'  thi*  frvnn^h' tnen,  and  touanl  the  k\  nir,  and  the  Dolphynne, 

-  .  :  tti<'a;rht'  to.im'nir,.  livin  vjMin  Ih-tu  anMiin*  as  i^'imhI  \\kAk\  send  h\  ni 

,"**  .•  and  niyjrht*  ;  an»l  a!n>n  htt**  inak**  tfuy**  Salli**  lor  the  l>olpynne 

4  !  till*  hai%t    tha!  the  niytrlit'  U' niadr,  and  they  were  i^rete  pmne 

•  ■'  :-v^  fur  the  iKdpynne  t«»  pla\  w\th'-alh.     (ful.  1.  l»ac*k.) 

•    i*riut«.-«i  lU  l"«'l.  *-  Mt.u-rutU  t'J  limry   r. 
t-t      II.  M 


162  AGII4C0URTE   BATXELL. 

This  Dauphin  was  Louis,  eldest  son  of  Charles  VL,  then 
between  eighteen  and  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  was  bom  on 
January  22,  1396,  and  died  before  his  father,  without  issue,  on 
December  18,  1415,  in  his  twentieth  year  (Nicolas),  But  as 
Heijry  V.  was  eight  years  older  than  the  Dauphin^  having  been 
born  in  1388,  it  is  not  likely  that  he  would  have  taunted  Henry 
with  his  youth. 

Lines  33-40  :  Henry  exerted  himself  greatly  to  get  his  army 
together,  and  had  to  pledge  his  crowns,  his  jewels,  plate,  &c. 
to  his  men  to  guarantee  them  their  wages.  Nobody  would 
move  without  taking  security  from  him.  He  sailed  from  South- 
ampton on  August  7,  1415,  with  a  fleet  of  between  1200  and 
1400  vessels  of  various  sizes,  from  20  to  300  tons,  according  to 
Nicolas.  Lingard  makes  the  fleet  1500  sail,  carrying  6000 
men-at-arms  and  2400  archers.  The  army  landed  at  Clef  de 
Caus,  or  Kideaux,  on  August  15 ;  on  the  19th  arrived  before 
Harfleur,  and  at  once  laid  siege  to  it.  On  "  the  English  balls," 
1.  34,  and  missiles,  Laboureur  states  that,  among  other  engines, 
the  English  had  some  which  threw  stones  of  a  monstrous  size,  and 
projected  entire  millstones  {des  meulea  toutes  entiires),  which 
threw  down  the  walls  with  a  frightful  noise,  so  that  by  the  Feast 
of  the  Assumption  (August  15,  a  wrong  date)  all  their  batteries 
were  destroyed.  I  find  nothing  about  the  "  great  gunn  of  Calais  " 
of  1.  49;  but  on  September  17  at  midnight  the  French  mes- 
sengers came  to  treat  with  Henry ;  and  as  the  town  was  not 
relieved  by  September  22,  the  Lord  de  Gaucourt  and  thirty-four 
of  the  noblest  persons  of  the  town  then  surrendered  it  to  him. 
He  turned  out  the  inhabitants  (1.  58)  to  the  number  of  2000, 
besides  citizens,  60  knights,  and  more  than  200  other  gentry ; 
left  in  the  town  more  than  the  300  Englishmen  of  our 
ballad,  1.  59,  even,^  "  under  the  captain  *  (Sir  John  Blount,  says 

*  There  is  a  muster-roll  of  the  garrison  22  knights,  273  men-at-arms,  and  798 

of  Harfleur,  under  the  Earl  of  Dorset,  archers.  Most  of  these,  we  may  pesume, 

taken  in  the  months  of  January,  Feb-  had  been   left  behind  when  tae  King 

ruary,  and  March,  immediately  following  marched  on  to  Agincourt.  Hunter^  p.  bh. 

the  battle.    It  consisted  of  4  barons,  'l^e  lord  Beaufbrd,HarL  MS.  675, 175  b. 


laiXCOUKTI  BATTILL. 


IfiS 


Hotartjvlet),  c^aln  bornna  and  knijtliU  itkJlfVil  in  afUn  of  war, 
with  3O0  lancM,  luiil  9rt<»  ardiiTM  on  pay  "  (Nicola»,  p.  217),  M»d 
narchcd  oat  hiiiixrir  on  October  7  wiLli  "  not  aboro  flOO  Udom 
•od  SOtIO  ardicrK,"  tMvn  n  writer  who  w&s  witb  bitn.  Nieotfis 
pola  Uw  force  at  from  6(H}U  to  tiUOO  figbtini;  men.  Linn  <>I-4 
uf  Ibe  bftllad  niv  not  tnie,  for  Henry's  moTcmrnts  were  wtitcli«d, 
111*  atni^cni  cut  off,  and  tlio  country  bud  waste  before  bim. 
B«  waArepobNnl  in  bis  fir§t  atteiupta  to  crow  Ibe  Somme,  between 
r  li  and  IS  ;  but  on  tbe  l&tb,  tinding  a  ford  not  itaked, 
ly  got  uver;  on  tlte  24tli  reacbed  Klaisuncellea,  and  on  tbo 
1  foagbt  the  Inltle. 
s  60U,0(K)  French  of  1.  72  U  of  eounte  na  exaggeration,  a  0 
1  added  for  efTcut.'  The  iii4;i«age  ami  aiuiwer  of  lines 
ire  nut  biatortuul,  though  the  following  particular*  are 
■o,  and  the  t(>,00()  killed  of  L  137  is  borne  out  by 
»'•  eoDcliuion,  titat  the  whole  of  the  French  low  on  the 
d  VM  between  10,000  and  1 1,000  men. 

t  Dnke  of  Vorke  of  line  117  waa  "  Edward,  Duke  of  Vork, 
.   of    Ednubd    of    l.ai)g]i<y,   Duke  of   York,   aon   of    King 
1  couain  german  tti  tbe  King.     He  indented  on 
}  to  aenre  with  1   bannen-t,  4  kniglita,  9-1  e«<)uireii,  and 
nt«d  archeta.    His  continge-nt,  io  the  indenture  ofJrwcU, 
]  to  have  been  99  buioe*  and  .VK)  wrheni.     He  had  one  of 
mwiM  in  pledge.     Ho  went  on  witli  tbe  King  to  Agincourt, 
t  be  \tmt    bis  Ytitr"  (Hunter,  p.  S2).     Un   the  Wednesday 
E>  the  l«Utlr,  Kkyn  Monrtrelel,  i.  227,  *'le  due  d'Vorch,  «iia 
Mje,  mrnaHl   raiMNlKanle,  se  b)gca  &  Frrm-riHi  mir  la  riuivro 
p  Caneka.'     Thi»  Iraderahip  of  the  vanguard  ibo  I>uke  kept  on 
■  S2th,  and  aa  the  Cotton  ?kIS.  alieady  quoted  from  DarralM 
laking  r»r  it,  and  the  eventa  of  tbe   liottle,  I  copy  a  page 
a  bal/of  it  fnini  lintvea  S  and  4. 


I 


1tiM  KaifbMv  Ml  -  - 


■IrU  ■ 


Id    Uarljpu  ■ 


KaifbMv  Ml  liu,im      4.)iihltM.    ltinlm,f.n^ 


164  AGISCOURTE   BATTELL. 

And  the  duke  of  yorke  fclle  on  knees  and  besought^  the  kyng  of  a 
bone,  that  he  wold  graunte  hjm  that  day  the  avaunteward  in  his 
bataylc.  And  the  kyng  graunted  hym  his  askyng,  And  sayd, 
"  graunto  mercy,  cosen  of  yorke,"  and  prayd  hym  to  make  hym  redy. 
And  than  he  bad  euery  man  to  ordeyne  a  stake  of  tre,  and  sharpc 
Iwthc  endes  that  the  stake  myghte  be  pyghte  in  the  ye-*rthe  a  slope, 
that  hir  enemies  shnld  not  oner-come  hem  on  horsbak,  ffor  that  were 
hir  fals  purpose,  and  araide  hem  alle  there  for  to  ouer-ryde  our  meyne 
sodenly  at  the  fyrst  comyng  on  of  hem  at  the  fyrst  bronnt :  and  al 
nyghte  be-ffore  the  bataile  f®  ffrenshcmen  made  many  grete  fiers  and 
nioche  reuelle,  with  howtyng  and  showtyng,  and  plaid  onre  kyng  and 
his  lordis  at  the  dise,  and  an  archer  alway  for  a  blanke  *  of  hir  money, 
ffor  they  wenden  alle  had  bene  heres.  the  mome  arose,  the  day  gan 
spryng.  And  the  kyng  by  goode  anise  let  araie  his  batayle'  and  his 
weiiges,  and  charged  euery  man  to  kepe  hem  hole  to-geders,  and 
pmid  hem  alle  to  be  of  good  chere.  And  whan  they  were  redy,  he 
asked  what  tyme  of  the  day  it  was,  And  they  sayd  prime.  Than  said 
onre  kyng,  "  now  is  good  tyme !  For  alle  England  praythe  for  vs ; 
and  therfore  be  of  good  chere,  and  let  vs  goo  to  onre  iomey."  And 
than  he  said  with  an  highe  vois,  "  in  the  name  *  of  almyghtuy  god  and 
seynt  George,  avaunt  Baner!  and  seint  george  this  day  be  thyue 
helpe  !  *'  And  than  these  ffrenshmen  come  prikyng  doune  as  they 
wolde  haue  ouer-ridden  alle  onre  meyne.  But  god  and  oure  archers 
made  hem  sone  to  stomble  ;  ffor  cure  archers  shett  neuer  arow  a-mys, 
but  yt  j)ers8hed  and  brought^  to  grounde  man  and  hors ;  ffor  they 
]mt  day  shoten  for  a  wager.  And  oure  stakes  .mad  hem  stoppe,  & 
ouer-terncd  eche  on  oothir  that  they  lay  on  hepes  two  spere  lenghtlw- 
of  heyghte.  And  oure  kyng  wit^  his  meyne  and  with  his  men  of 
armes  and  archiers  that  thakked*  on  theym  so  thykke  with  arowes, 
and  leyd  on  with  strokes,  and  oure  kyng  withe  his  owne  hondes 
faughtc  manly.  And  thus  almyghtcy  god  and  seynt  Greorgo  brought^? 
oure  enymies  to  gi'ounde  and  yaf  vs  that  day  f®  victorie.  and  there 
were  slayne  of  ffrenshmen  that  day  in  the  felde  of  Aginconrte  mo 
thanne  A  xi  M^*  with(?  prisoners  that  were  taken.  And  there  were 
nombrcd  that  day  of  ffrenshmen  in  the  felde  mo  than  six  score  thou- 

'  MS.  fol.  3,  hack.  •  The  main  body  under  his  own  com- 

'  Fr.  Blanc,  the  halfc  of  a  Sol^  a  peccc  mand.    The  vanguard  as  the  right  wing 

of  money  which  we  call  also,  a  hlanke.  under  the  Duke  of  York,  the  r(>arguurd 

iSr)/,   a  Sous,  or  the   French    shilling,  as  the  left  wing  under  Lord  Camois. 

whereof  terme  make  one  of  ours. — Cot-  *  MS.  mame. 

grave.  *  thwacked,  beat,  pattered. 


AGINCODHTE  BATTEU^  165 

and  of  EngliBhcmcn  nat  vij  m";  bat  god  that  day  faagliU?  for  vs. 
And  after  cam  thcr  tjdynges  to  oure  k}iig  tliat  tliero  was  a  iiuw 
bftlajle  of  fiTunaluiiicn  rvdy  to  stclo  on  hym,  and  comcn  towardiH 
[/c4.  4.]  hjm.  Anone  our  kyng  let  crie  that  cnery  man  sliulil 
■Ice  his  prisoners  that  he  had  take;  and  anon  araid  his  liatuille 
ajennfi  to  fights*  with  the  frenslimen.  And  wlianne  they  sawe  tliat  our 
men  kyllcd  donno  her  priHoners,  thauiio  tliey  witAdrtiwe  licm,  and 
brake  hir  bataillo  and  all^*  hir  Array.  And  this  ouru  kyng,  as  a 
worthy  conqncrori  had  tliat  day  the  victor}'e  in  the  feldoof  Agencoort 
in  Picardie.' 

The  Duke  of  Orleance,  1.  149^  though  he  was  taken  prisoner 
in  the  battle,  is  not  named  by  Moustrelet  as  the  leader  of  the 
attack  on  Henry *s  camp : 

Et  adonc  vindrent  nuuuelles  an  Roy  Anglois,  que  les  Francois  les 
aM<aillt)ient  par  derrierc :  &  <|u*ilri  auuicnt  desia  prins  ses  sommiera 
A  antmi  Ijagues,  laquelle  chose  CKtoit  verituble:  car  Hobinet  do 
nuamonnilk*,  Rifllart  de  ClaniaKHc,  YKanilNirt  d*Azincourt,  &  aucuns 
antral  hoi/imes  d*armeM,  accom|>agiiez  de  six  cens  paiMans,  allen*nt 
ferir  an  bagaigo  dudit  Roy  d*AngIeterre.  Et  prindnMit  leHclites 
bairnes,  A  ant  res  choscs,  auec  grand  nouibrt*  de  cheuaux  deMlits 
Angloia,  ent re- temps  que  les  gardes  d*iceux  efttoient  occupei  en  la 
bataillo.     If'mstnht,  vol.  i.  p.  2*20. 

Th*'  2<K>,0fK>  French  pris<»nt'rs  is  an  impossible  number,  and 
NicfjJaM  d(N.*s  not  give  any  at  all.  The  highest  estimate  of 
xh*T  Kn;;Ii.*<li  loss  is  HI(M)  men.  From  Agincourt  Henry  marchiMl 
tM^'aLiiH,  where  he  arrivi-d  on  October  29.  On  November  14 
be  cn»sse<l  the  Ciiannel  to  Dover,  and  on  the  24th  entered 
Iynd«in  in  trium[»li : 

llw  Vixv  of  loiidon,  where  J>"t  there  was  shewcMl  many  a  fayro 
liv^'ht'  at  all  till*  eoti<luyt<s  and  at  crosse  in  the  cIh-ih*,  as  in  heuenly 
a!T*w-  ''f  ftni»tr«'N.  Arelmunirels,  patrinrehes,  prophites  and  Vinriiies, 
».tA  i|%tnTH  nu'liNlii'H,  wnsyiiir  and  syniryng,  to  wehMnn'  oure  kyiijr ; 
Ar.dal!'  lln*  eoiuluylrs  n*nnyiit?  wi't/i  wyne.  ((*ott.  Claud.  A.  viii. 
Uaf  t.  Urk). 

TLf  la^t  three  verges  of  our  ballml  ipiicken  and  alter  events 


166 


AQINCOURTE   BATTELL. 


considerably.  It  was  not  till  after  many  a  weary  siege  and 
fight,  culminating  with  the  fall  of  Rouen  on  January  16,  1419,* 
that  Henry  saw  his  beautiful  bride,  and  that  for  one  day  only, 
on  May  30,  1419.  It  was  not  till  May  20,  1420,  that  he 
married  her  at  Troyes ;  not  till  December  of  that  year  that  he 
made  his  triumphal  entry  into  Paris  with  his  wife  and  his 
father-in-law,  the  French  King.  He  was  never  crowned  in 
Paris,  King  of  France,  but  his  wife  was  crowned  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  Queen  of  England,  on  St.  Matthew's  day,  September  21, 
A.D.  1421. 


Henry  V. 


A  councell  braue  *  our  Kitig  did  hold 

with  many  a  lord  &  knight, 

in  *  whom  he  tmlye  vnderstands 

how  ffrance  withheld  his  right. 


sends  an 
ambassador 
to  the 
French  King 


therefor  a  braue  embassador 

vnto  the  'King  he  sent, 
thai  he  might  fiPuUy  vnderstand 
his  mind  &  whole  entente, 


to  yield  him 
his  right, 


or  he^  take 
it. 


desiring  him,  as  *  fireindlye  sort, 

his  lawftill  Wright  to  yeeld, 
or  else  he  sware  *  by  dint  of  sword 
i  2       to  win  the  same  in  feild. 


OharlesYI. 


answers 


the  King  of  ffirance,  with  all  his  lords 

who  ®  heard  this  message  plaine, 
vnto  our  braue  embassador 
16       did  answer  in  disdaine  ; 


'  See  the  "Sege  of  Roan,"  Archaol. 
xx\.  48  ;  xxii.  361. — ^F. 

»  grave,  P.O.  (Prints  Copy).— P. 


Of.  Conj[ectupe]. — P. 


*  in,  P.C.— P. 

*  voVd,  P.C.— P. 

*  which,  P.C— P. 


AQISCOUHTK    BATTELL.  ID 

who  njtl,'  "oar  King  was  yett  bnl  *  jounge 

&  at  u*  tender  age ; 
whLtttir  I  vrft;  not  for  his  wmtm,*  am  b* 

Bor  cmre  not  for  his  nge,*  SS? 

"  whoae  *  knowledge  eke '  in  ffeftta  of  Mines, 

wlinM^  siekil]  *  [is]  bnt  *  venry  nnitll, 
wbiMc  '*  it-'oder  iojmts  more  ffltter  are 

to  tosM!  k  Tennys  beU." 

k  tutin  of  TamjTS  balls  therfore,  mi  tmii 

in  piyde  and  great  diadaine  mrt  mr 

he  aends  to  Noble  Henery  the  5*," 
who  reoompenoed  '*  hia  paine. 

A  when  our  Kimy  this  message  hard  Bmt 

he  waxed  wrath  in  his  "  hart, 
A  said  "  he  wold  snch  balls  yrovyde 
I         Uat  "ahold  make  all  franoe  to  smaH." 

an  unaj  great  '<  onr  Ktn^  prwpared,'*  pnpaH  • 

fiat  was  both  good  &  strong ; 
A  ftom  Sowthsmpton  is  onr  Ki'ii^ 

with  all  his  Nanye  gone. 

he  landed  in  ffntnce  both  safe  '*  and  sonnd  Ud^Ib 

with  all  his  warlike  trainc ; 
TTito  "  s  townc  railed  Harffleeto  first  '* 
I         be  marched  vp  amaine. 


■  Ami  trigad.  I 
•  tea  P.C-P. 


d,  P.C— P.  "  H«  M«t  tuU  oar  nobU  K« .  P.O. 


•  «f  too.  P.C— P.  ■  To  r««Dpi.»c»,  P.C.-P. 
■  **««^— ofhiaww.  PC— P.  ■'  rf.-P. 

•  hv  «*  bi»  nv^t,  P.C.— P.  "  tlwD,  PC— P. 

•  Bis.  P.C^P.  "  did  raiM.  PC— P. 

•  k  PC— P.  ■*  Id  Franm  he  luded  nb.  ftp.,  P.C. 

•  .kUL-P.     .  -P 


168 


AGINCOUBTE   BATTELL. 


bcfriegee 
Harfleur, 


and  wlien  ho  bad  beseeged  the  same, 

against  these  fensed  walls 
to  batter  downe  their  statlje  towers 
44        he  sent  his  English  Balls. 


bids  it  8nr< 
render 


or  he^ll  beat 
it  to  the 
ground. 


*  And  he  bad  them  yeeld  [up  to  him  •] 

themselues  &  eke  their  towne, 
or  else  he  sware  vnto  the  earth 
48         with  cannon  '  to  beate  them  downe. 


Ci»geMt 


*  the  great  gunn  of  Caleis  was  vpsett,* 

he  mounted  against  those  walls  ^; 
the  strongest  steepele  in  the  towne, 
52        he  threw  downe  bells  &  all. 


The  Govern- 
ors give  up 
the  town. 


^  then  those  thai  were  the  gouemors 
their  woefull  hands  did  wringe  * ; 
th6  brought  their  Keyes  in  humble  sort 
66         vnto  our  gracious  King, 


Henry 
garriaons  it, 


^  &  when  the  towne  was  woone  and  last, 

the  ffrenchmen  out  th6  ^  threw, 
&  placed  there  300  englishmen 
60        tJuit  wold  to  him  be  true. 


and 
marches  to 


this  being  done,  our  Noble  King^ 

marched  vp  &  downe  tJiat  *  land, — 
&  not  a  ffrenchman  ffor  his  liffe 
64         durst  once  his  fforce  withstand, — 


*  These  4  stanz!  not  in  print. — ^P. 

*  MS.  cut  away.  It  has  more  words. 
-F.  He  bade  the  goyemors  give  up. 
-P. 

■  guns. — P. 

*  then.— P. 


•  was  ••'gainst  their  wall. — ^P, 

•  Only  half  the  n  in  the  MS.— F. 
»  he.— P. 

'  done  our  noble  £nglMh  King,  P.( 
—P. 

•  the,  P.C.— P. 


AOiacocKTB  bathll.  169 


dD  *  he  eune  to  Agincoart ; 

A  *  ••  it  WM  hiB  chance, 
to  iBnd  ^  the  Ktn^r  in  reftdinecee. 

With  him  was  all  the  power  of  f&anoe,  n^iiWae 


a  mightje  host  they  ^  had  prepared 

off  armed  sonldiers  then, 
wAiich  was  noe  lease  (the  chronicle  sajes)  * 
rt        then  GOOOOO  «  men.7 


the  King  of  ffiranoe  that  well  did  know 

the  number  of  our  men, 
in  wanting  pride  vnto  oar  Kim^^ 
'%        sends  one  of  his  heralds  *  then  aiKimu 


to  Tnderstand  what  he  wold  gine  loadk  nmrr 


for  the  *  ransoms  of  his  liffe,  w*u  w  tot 


when  in  that  feild  he  had  taken  him  *® 
amiddst  that  '*  bloody  striffc. 


&  when  *•  our  Kinj  the  Message  heard,** 

did  straight  the  '*  aiLswer  make,  nmry 

wjiiifT,  **  liefore  that  tiling  tthold  **  como  to  passe, 
M         many  **  of  their  harts  shold  *'  ake  I 

'  Ttfil.  r<\--I».  Acccmntc^  at  thi^  iiin«t._P. 

•  Wh.fv  PC. -P.  •  IW  nood  a  Uemia,  P.C.-P. 

•  Ilr    fma.L— P.      Aim    «NM.    1.   68.  •  c/.— P. 

tsArk^  o^t  by  P.  i>»nj[«:tur*llr].— F.  ••  hr  m  fleM  thM  ...  I*,  P.C.-P. 

•  H-.  PC   -P.  '  •»  thrir,  P.C.— P. 

•  *Tj*«t  •rr..q«t.  P.C.— P.  '«  thro  .   .  .—P. 

•  4^»,*nn,,  P.C.— P.  »•  with  chr«rful  hMit^^P. 

•  lW;w.-n    IH  Ami  1U«*  StAOia  of  y  '•  thi*.  -P. 

V**   !•  thr  |ir*lltivitiK  in  iViot:.  *'  tktm^  tkJJ^  cat  out  bjr  P— F. 

Wl  -Ji  •i^J.t  •inl  mut'h  «ma<«'  our  kin^  '•  wmit*. — P. 

F.  r  h*-  If.  1  •  «U  hi«  hu«t  "  thjill,  P.C.~P. 
Not  |aMiii({  flftcvo  thoUMOil  hiul, 

•   n.  -I'. 


170 


AOINCOURTE  BATTELL- 


**  My  hourt's 
blood." 


88 


(( 


vnto  your  proud  presrunptass  prince 

declare  this  thing,"  quoth  hee, 
mj  owne  harts  blood  shall  pay  the  price  ; 

nought  ^  else  he  getts  of  me."  * 


The  French 


then  all  the  night  the  frenchman  I^en, 

with  trinmphe,  mirth,  &  loy ; 
the  next  morning  they  mad  full  accomp[t]  * 
92        our  Armye  to  destroye. 


play  at  dice 
for  the 
English, 


96 


&  for  onr  King  &  all  his  Lords 
at  dice  th6  ^  playd  apace, 

&  for  our  comon  souldiers  coates 
they  set  a  prize  but  base, 


and  value 
their  red 
coats  at  9d., 
white  at  4d, 


100 


8  pence  for  a  redd  coate,' 

&  a  groate  was  sett  to  a  white ;  * 
because  they  ^  color  was  soe  light, 

they  sett  noe  better  buy  itt.* 


Heniy  en- 

ooorageehis 

men: 


104 


the  cheerfull  day  at  last  was  come ; 

our  King  with  Noble  hart 
did  pray  his  valliant  soldiers  all 

to  play  a  worthye  part, 


108 


&  not  to  shrinke  from  fainting  foes, 
whose  fearfrdl  harts  in  ffeeld 

wold  by  their  feirce  couragious  stroakes 
be  soone  in-forced  ^  to  yeeld ; 


*  none. — P. 

■  Seven  Stanz"  following  not  in  Print. 

'  Making  account  the  next  morning, 
or, 
They  made  &c— P.    del.  full.— P. 


«  they.— P. 

•  coat  iraa  set. — ^P. 

•  And  fourpenoe  for  a  wfaite.^P. 

'  Theyput  in  brackets  by  P.  cofif.^F. 

•  bA— P. 

•  enforced. — P. 


AOlHOODm  BATTKLL. 

mffnrd  not  of '  their  mnltitnde, 
Uiej  u«  mora  tlieo  wee, 
fiv  eohe  of  n  well  kble  is 
lo  beato  dowse  fieiujhmen  S ; 


"jett  leteoMTe  noMi  proride  bimMlfe  * 

ft  sbong  *  mbetentiiftll  at»ke, 
A  Mt  it  ri^t  befora  himaelfe, 

M  tone  to  breoke." 


A  then  *  beapftke  the  Duke  of  joAe 
"O  noble  Km^,"  nid  bee, 

"  the  Iwding  of  fAat  *  b«ttell  bnae 
Toaab[e]afe  to  gine  it  *  me !  " 


**  god  Bnteroj,  ooeen  jorice,"  ■»;«•  hee,  i 

"I  doe'  gnot  thee  thj  request ; 
Mwche  yon  *  on  couregiooslje,  [p^bmi] 

A  I  win  guide  *  the  raat."  t 


then  cume  the  bragginge  frenchmen  downs 

with  cmell  '<>  force  A  might, 
with  whome  our  noble  Ki'n^  began 

«  h»rde  &  cmell  ffight. 

oar  Eagliah  archers  ■ '  discb&rged  their  shafts 

as  thioke  as  hayle  in  skye,'* 
A  >*  many  a  frenchman  in  Ihat  '*  feelde 

(Aat  happy  day  did  dye  ; 


:c^. 


*  iiiaL  lUintlMMS.     P. 
a  iltafoloL  111.    MClumukwl 
■  hj  P.-f .  '^ 

*  M  JM  Irt  *T«T  mu  pIQTiJ* 

A  mnm^  *c-P. 

•  W«i  ite.  P.C-P. 
'  tU*  (tk*X  P.C-P. 
'  K  P.C— P. 


1.  P.C— P. 
-  fMUr.  PC— P. 
"  d.  EoslUh.  llnMTt]  UwT,  P.C— P. 
■*  boa  ■kjB.  P.C.~P. 
"  TliU,  P.C— P. 
'•  tha.  P.C— P. 


172 


AQINCOURTE  BATTELL. 


their  stakot 
Btop  the 
bone. 


10,000 
Fnmch  are 
alain, 

10,000 
taken. 


and  Henry 
wins  the 
day. 


*  ffor  the  horssmen  stumbled  on  onr  stakes, 

&  soe  their  lines  thej  lost ; 
&  many  a  frenchman  there  was  tane 
136  for  pn'soners  to  their  •  cost. 

10000  flft^nchmen  '  there  were  slaine 

of  enemies  in  the  ffeeld, 
&  neere  as  many  prisoners  tane  ^ 
140  thai  day  were  fforced  to  yeeld. 

thus  had  our  King  a  happy  day 

&  victorye  ouer  ffrance ; 
he  brought  his  foes  vnder  his  ffeete  * 
144  that  late  in  pride  did  prance. 


Whne  the 
fight  is  going 
on,  news 
cornea 


that  the 
French  have 
plundered 
the  English 
tents. 


Henry 


orders  all 
the  French 
prisoners  to 
be  slain, 


^  when  they  were  at  the  Maine  battell  there 

with  all  their  might  &  forces,  then  ^ 
a  crye  came  fifrom  our  English  tents 
148  that  we  were  robbed  all  them  ® ; 

for  the  Duke  of  Orleance,  with  a  band  of  men, 

to  our  English  tents  they  came  ® ; 
all  ^®  our  le wells  &  treasure  tJiat  they  haue  taken, 
162  &  many  of  our  boyes  **  haue  slaine. 

much  greeved  was  King  ^^  Harry  therat, — 

this  was  against* 3  the  law  of  armes  then, — 
comands  euerye  souldier  on  paine  of  death 
166  to  slay  euerye  prisoner  then.** 


•  This  stanza  not  in  Print. — P. 
■  [prisoner- •]  his,  [P.]C. — P. 

•  men  that  day,  P.O.— P. 
«  (d.  P.C.)— P. 

•  them  quickly  under  foot,  P.C. — P. 

•  The  Nine  Stanz'.  following  not  in 
print,  but  instead  the  annexed  stanza 
Yizt. : — 

The  Lord  preserve  our  noble  King 
And  grant  to  him  likewise 
The  upper  hand  and  victory 
Of  all  his  enemies !  — P. 


'  force  and  might. — P. 

•  they  were  robbed  quite. — P. 

•  Of  men  unto  them  came. — P. 

'*  And  prefixed;   lewelU  f,  and  tka 
marked  out  by  P.-yF. 

"  all  our  boys,  so  Shakesp^  — P. 

"  the  King.— P. 

"  Being  'gainst — P.  and  then  delete 
— F. 

**  And  bade  y?»  slay  their  Prisoners 
For  to  revenge  those  huxms. — ^P. 


AOINCOUBTE  BATTSLL.  173 


V        III 


'  ffrcnchcmcn  our  Englishmen  had,  tnojaoo^ 

■omo  2f  &  some  had  one  ' ; 
eaerje  one  was  commanded  hj  sound  of  irumpcit 
liO  to  slay  his  prisoner  then.* 

A  then  ih6  followed  vpon  the  maine  battell ;  ^i|„  FkvBch 

the  ffrenehmen  th6  fled  then  *  pTrtT"^ 

towards  the  citje  of  Paris 
144  as  fast  as  th6  '  might  gone. 

hot  then  thcr  was  neurr  a  poere  w/th-in  France  ^ 

of  all  those  ^  Nobles  then, 
of  all  those  worth  je  Disse  pccros,  and  no 


las  durst  come  to  Ki'iifi  Ilarry*  then.  if*^  „ 

"^  ''  King  Hany; 

bat  then  Katherine,  the  Ktntjg  fajrre  daughter  there,*  b«(  Um 

beini;  pnmcd  appanmt  hi.  hejt«.  "^ 

with  her  maidens  *^  in  most  sweet  attiro 
171  to  King  Harrj  did  repayre ;  ** 

A  when  shce  came  before  our  '*  Kiii«/,  eoM  Md 

shco  kneeled  vpon  her  knee, 
dctcinng  him  '•  thai  his  warres  wold  *•  cease, 
irs  A  that  *'  he  her  lone  wold  bco.  brr' 

thorr-vpon  our  English  lionls  then  Agreed  ** 

With  tlu'  Peorc»«  of  IFrancc  then  **  ; 
soe  he  MarryiHl  Kiithcrine,  the  KimjH  fuire  daughter,   nedof-,»n.i 
l«Ni  Ar  wa«  crowned  Kin'j  in  Purin  then.*^  5'"*?*" 

flins. 

•  pHMk).  p.    n..tli  inrw  (lolite.!.— F.  '  N.»t  om- of  all  thotk-.- P. 

•  H4n«-  '«#•  •nil  Mitnr  hnl  (wo.     IV  •  t«>  Kf   Ilarnr  n>inr.     P. 

•  Ao*!  '^wh  w.i*  l»i.i  by  Tninii>f(»  Mmnd  •  Kiiitf**  iHitii^htrr  fair,  [V.]C. — V. 

To  aUt  bift  |>hM)»ir  tho,  ••all     Mai«U.   -I*.     /Arn,  1.    109.  A*  i*. 

(•T)  I.  17t».  m.-/.  I.  171,  marki^l  i/  l.v  P.-  K. 

Ill*  I'hti'miT  lo  •In.     V.  "   l»i.!  to  our  Kin«  rr|»r,  I  P.JC.  -I*. 

•  •--►.n      I*,  fk^,  I.  1«J.  :iii  I .(,  /A/-  ana  '«  o.ir  -P. 
V   •f  1    K'l  'LM-ti  1,%  Rj^  F.  ••  ft.     V. 

•  f?.'7       I*.               '  »•  fniu'lit.  -  P. 

•  T^mo   •4<i   ihtrc    otv»r  n  l\vr   in          **  <>urK»&    -  Linln. — P. 

.ritv.^   r..nj       P  '*  S-Mi  with  th«   Frtn<'h  furT««<il       I*. 

T^'ti  ••.'wA!  th-'ft  not  !h-  f'Minil  in  Frim-v  '*  S»  ul  IVirin  hr  f«ir  Kulh"'  ««'! 

Of  tUiir  NwMrt  all  or  H«>nic.--P.  Ami  crvvnc«l  Wiia  with  •!»€«  I.  -  P. 


174 


Thebe  are  two  sides  to  Early  English  Literature ;  one  gay,  the 
other  grave  ;  one  light,  the  other  earnest :  and  a  man  who  comes 
to  the  subject  fresh  from  struggles  in  the  cause  of  reform, 
social  and  political,  and  meets  first  with  the  grave  and  earnest 
side  of  our  early  writings,  is  struck  with  delight  and  surprise  at 
finding  that  in  the  old  days,  too,  protesters  against  wrong  existed, 
and  that  English  writers  denounced  from  the  depths  of  their 
soul,  in  words  of  sternest  indignation,  the  oppressions  and  abuses 
from  which  the  English  poor  of  their  days  suffered.  Having 
passed  myself  from  those  Morning  Chronicle  letters  on  **  Labour 
and  the  Poor  " — which  in  1849-50  revealed  so  much  of  the  sad 
state  of  our  workmen, — from  meetings  of  sweated  tailors,  over- 
worked bakers,  and  ballast-heavers  forced  into  drunkenness,  to 
the  pages  of  Roberd  of  Brunne's  Eandlyng  Synne,  Langlande's 
Vision  of  Piers  Ploughman,  Piers  Ploughman*8  Crede,  and 
works  of  like  kind  from  1303  to  1560, — I  can  bear  witness  to 
the  deep  impression  made  on  me  by  the  noble  and  fervent  spirits 
of  our  early  men,  rebuking  the  selfish,  denouncing  the  hard- 
hearted, calling  down  God's  judgment  on  the  oppressor ;  striving, 
in  their  time  too,  to  leave  the  land  better  than  they  found  it 
As  one  looked  backward  to  these  sources  of  the  river  of  English 
life,  one  heard  a  great  murmur  of  wrong  rise  from  the  torrents' 
currents,  one  saw  the  stream  turbid  with  the  woes  of  **  humble 
folk ; "  but  there  were  never  wanting  voices,  ordering  the  one  to 
be  stilled  in  orderly  channels,  and  the  other  cleared.     Further 

»  This  is  a  satirical  Allegory:  and  seems  not  very  ancient,  vid.  St  13,  y.  4 P. 


COHSCIKHCK. 


173 


Bta^  ^  our  mriy  wiiten  ilii!  nut  1caM-n  ttiia  impreBsioa:  for 
H|Blb  tbi!  bright  tddft  eamv,  though  Chaiicnr's  living  sketchcB 
^^^Hyvd  bU  that  was  merriest  iu  early  days,  yet  still  there  wan 
^^^^B  io  bis  tmrlh;  abuses  in  relif^ion  and  social  life  were 
^^^^H|L  oune  the  lesH  effectively  because  with  a  joke;  and 
^^^Kab  spoke  seriously,  he  too  declared,  "Tliilke  that  thay 
Pdvpe  thtmlles,  ben  Gixldes  people;  for  humble  folk  beu  Christoi 
Ifrmdcs:  tkay  ben  cootubernially  with  the  l^rd :  .  .  .  ixrtva, 
H^Mritmu  uul  dvspit  of  our  undirlingm  is  damptuible.'' 
^^^^^fai  lUe,  De  avaritia.)  To  their  honour  be  it  said,  our 
^^^Vtriten  wera  on  the  weak  man's  itidu  against  the  strong, 
Viiad  Ad  what  in  them  lay  to  lessen  the  vice  of  the  world.  It  is 
I  Urn  which  makes  the  lovers  of  them  not  only  surprised,  but  in- 
I  tlignoat,  at  (be  willing  and  wilful  ignorance  in  which  men  of  our 
I  ilay  rvmain  with  regard  to  ihero.  Our  modems  will  not  take  a 
Lfnr  days' troulildonuwtwr  their  language;  they  car«  tittle  forthdr 
HknabU:  but  when  once  tho  readt'ni  of  the  ninett>enth--or  is  it 
^^^Htta  twentictb  ? — century  awake  to  the  rocugnilion  of  the 
^^^^b|t  tberv  M  an  Early  English  Litemture  worth  studying,  tbey 
^^^^B  adiuned  of  Ibeir  couotrymeu's  long  nqflwt,  and  gladly 
^^^^■^■dge  the  Talue  of  the  treasures  th«y  will  find^food  for 
^^IHElMit  inpulscs  of  the  human  souL  So  far  as  I  know,  justice 
PlHi  a»««r  y«t  bc«n  dime  to  this  iptrit  of  our  early  literature  by  any 
I  writer  em  it,  except  the  latest — Profeaaor  Mnrlry.  He,  a  man 
mof  Blind  akin  with  that  of  our  old  men — freah  fititn  half  a  life 
■npnt  in  itnig^cfl  for  reform  in  health-laws,  i)ducmti<m,  potitioi, 
mgmd  nlipoa.  ever  hacking  the  right  and  fighting  the  «rroDg— has 
^^^BiD  Ibe  okl  books  aod  said  to  them,  not  only  "  what  wer«  you 
^^^^■IhI  or  altered  from,  what  manuscripts  aru  there  of  yon  f  " 
^HiKlC  mm)  nunly,  "  wKat  do  you  m<nn  f  what  has  the  ipirlt  of 
THor  writer  got  lu  say  to  the  spirits  of  me  and  men  hero  nowf  *' 
And  tbe  old  Immms  (that  were  nothing  more  to  so  many)  liare 
m  Arab  again  and  answered  him,  have  ■trctebcd  out  their  hands 


1 76  CONSCIENCE. 

and  ^pt  liis  as  a  friend's ;  and  he  has  put  down  their  answer  for 
us  in  his  own  wav  in  divers  places  of  his  genial  and  able  book,' 
one  of  which  I  quote.  He  is  speaking  of  Gower's  Vox  Cla- 
inantiMj  written  un  Wat  Tyler's  rebellion. 

**  In  that  earlier  work,  though  written  with  vigour  and  ease  in 
Latin,  the  language  of  literature  which  alone  then  seemed  to  \ye 
lasting,  John  Gower  spoke  especiallj-  and  most  essentially  the 
English  mind.  To  this  day  we  hear  among  our  living  country- 
men, as  was  to  be  heard  in  Gower^s  time  and  long  before, 
the  voice  passing  from  man  to  man  that — in  spite  of  admixture 
with  the  thoiLsand  defects  incident  to  human  character — sustains 
the  keynote  of  our  literature,  and  speaks  from  the  soul  of  our 
history  the  secret  of  our  national  success.  It  is  the  voice  that 
expresses  the  pei-sistent  instinct  of  the  English  mind  to  find 
out  what  is  unjust  among  us  and  undo  it,  to  find  out  duty  to 
be  done  and  do  it,  as  God's  bidding.  We  twist  religion  into 
many  a  mistaken  form.  With  thought  free  and  opinions  mani- 
fold we  have  run  through  many  a  trial  of  excess  and  of  its 
answering  reaction.  In  battle  for  main  principles  we  have 
worked  on  through  political  and  social  conflicts  in  which  often, 
no  doubt,  unworthy  men  rising  to  prominence  have  misused 
for  a  short  time  dishonest  influence.  But  there  has  been  no 
real  check  to  the  great  current  of  national  thought,  the  stream 
from  which  the  long  line  of  our  English  writers,  like  the  trees 
by  the  fertile  river-bank,  derive  their  health  and  strength. 
We  have  seen  how  persistently  that  slow  and  earnest  English 
labour  towards  God  and  the  right  was  maintained  for  six 
centuries  before  the  time  of  Chaucer,  from  the  day  when 
CaKlmon  struck  the  first  note  of  our  strain  of  English  song  with 
the  words :  *  For  us  it  is  very  right  that  we  praise  with  our 
words,  love  in  minds,  the  Keeper  of  the  Heavens,  Glory  King  of 
Hosts.'  It  was  the  old  spirit  still  in  Chaucer's  time  that  worked 
in  the  *  Vision  of  Piers  Plowman,'  and  spoke  through  the  Voice 
of  Gower  as  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  *  Prepare  ye  the 
way  of  the  Lord.'  It  needed  not  in  those  days  that  a  man 
should  be  a  Wicliffite  to  see  the  griefs  of  the  Church  and 
people,  and  to  trace  them  to  their  root  in  duties  unperformed, 
(iower's  name  is  a  native  one,  possibly  Cymric,  but  derived  pro- 
bably in  or  near  Kent,  from  the  old  Saxon  word  for  marsh- 

'  EugJitih  WritcrSy  vol.  ii.  pt.  i.  p.  106-7. 


C05SCIEKCK.      .  177 

gr,  uf  wbich  Ihrro  wm  much  about  tbc  Ttiuiucs  moiitli, 
~  tod.     Hi«  geiiitiM  in  iitimixwl  An^lo-Suxun,  cloaclr  allied 
p«f  the  litentiiro  before  tbc  CuniucxL,  hi  the  simpli'  oar- 
■  of  ft  didactic  manuiT  Iravenrtl  by  no  bold  ori^iiolity  of 
•  Latin  vrrw!  CruvK-r  writes  easily,  and,  having  liia 
I,  forcibly.     But  be  ttlls  that  which  Im  knows, 
•ly.     His  few  inventions  alito,  as  of  tht*  drmm  of 
mH»  that  repreiient  ^^'at  Tyler's   rabbli-,  of  tlio 
|>  of  (be  KUtte  at  aca,  of  his  landing  at  an  island  full  of  turmoil 
I  dMcribed  to  him  as  tlritaiu,  are  oiutrirancea 
\  to  tbe  Bubtlcty  aud  the  audacity  of  true  ima^native 
He  does  not  wee  as  he  writcH,  and  so  write  that  ail  they 
e  with  him.     But  in  bis  own  old  ED^jlish  or  Anglo- 
ny,  be  Irini  to  put  his  rouI  into  his  work.     Thus,  in  tlie 
f  have  heard  him  asking  thai  the  soul  of  bis 
t  its  fbnn,  be  liKiked  to  ;  and  itp<-akiug  the  truest  Rngltsb 
h  wnlwices  as  that  'the   eye   is  hUnd,  and  the  ear  >)caf, 
'  nothing  down  lo  the  beart'«  depth ;  and  the  heart 
I  Dt>t  Utter  what  it  knows  is  as  a  live  coal  under  asbea. 
I  If  I   know  little,  there  may  be  another  whom  that  little  will 
Pour,  I  (five  of  my  M»nty  store,  for  I  would  rather  be  of 
1  of  none.     But  to  the  man  who  belierea  in  God 
Uainable  if  he  hut  rightly  feels  bis  work;  he 
_|l  whom  Uod  increases.'     This  is  the  old  spirit  of 
iof  B«lr,  in  whii-h  are  Uid,  while  the  earlb  lasta, 
I  fmatbtioiu  of  our  literature.     It  was  the  (trvnitth  of 
npar  in  faiin  that  maile  Guwer  strong.     'Ood  koowai* 
■■gain, '  my  wi«l>  ■«  to  Im  useful ;  that  is  the  prayer  that 
I  ny  laiiotir.'     And  while  he  thus  touches  the  nx>t  of  his 
'\  philosophy,  the  form  of  his  prayer  that  what  he  has 
Bvay  tie  what  he  would  wish  it  to  br,  is  still  a  tliorodgbly 
F  defiDitlon  id'  ffimi   1-Iu(:lish  writing.     His  pnyer  Is  that 
'tb^rv  may  tw  no  word  uf  untruth,  and  that  'each  word  may 
iOVWM  t»  tbe  IhJDK  it  *p«!aks  of.  pltmaantly  and  fitly  ;  tltat  bfl 
J  flatter  in  it  tiu  iiae,and  sc-rk  in  it  no  praise  abore  the  praise 
r  Ood.     Give  in>-,*  he  oaks,  'that  thnrr  shall  be  less  vice  and 
e  Tiilue  for  my  ■peaking;.' " 

fin  far  aa  r«f|[ards  tlir  spirit  of  nur  early  literature, 
ihtf  I'liifcasor  Mcirley  is  jnatilini  in  i-Tirry  word  that  he  haa  a 
iirmttlfi   tbe   oreasiottal   maraene**  of  U[>ressiotis  in  It  lo 
.  Ipaaled  many  an-rfher  short  coming,  the  •pint  of  it  is  onhle 


I 


178  .      CONSCIENCE. 

worthy  of  honour,  as  its  words  are  worthy  of  study,  by  every 
EDglishman. 

The  present  poem^  Conscience^  is  one  effort,  a  late  one,  in  the 
strain  of  that  ^'  slow  and  earnest  labour  towards  God  and  the 
right "  of  which  Professor  Morley  speaks.  Differing  as  it  does 
in  word  and  form  from  the  Ayenbite  of  Inwyt  (or  Remorse  of 
Conscience)  which  Dan  Michel  of  North  Gate,  **  ane  brother  of 
the  cloystre  of  sa3mt  Austin  of  Canterburi,"  fulfilled  in  the 
year  of  our  lordes  bearing,  1340,  it  has  yet  the  same  aim, 

l^is  boc  is  ywrite 

uor  englisse  men,  |>et  hi  wyte  (may  learn) 

hou  hi  ssolle  ham-zelae  ssriue, 

and  maki  ham  klene  ine  >i8e  line. 

With  Richard  RoUe  of  Hampole  in  1345  (or  thereabouts),  its 
writer  desires  that  by  his  Pricke  of  Conscience  men  may 

Be  stipd  >ar-by  til  ryghtwyse  way, 
)>at  eSt  tille  [>e  way  of  gnde  lyfyng, 
And  at  )>e  last  be  broght  til  gude  endyng.    (p.  268,  1.  9611.) 

With  Langlande,  our  Conscience  tries  the  Court,  the  Lawyers, 
the  Landlords,  the  Merchants,  the  Clergy ;  and  all  he  finds  in 
the  possession  of  his  enemies,  Covetousness,  Lechery,  Usury, 
Avarice,  and  Pride  have  their  way  with  all ;  the  husbandmen  are 
left  desolate  so  that  they  cannot  help  the  poor,  and  Conscience  is 
driven  out  to  lodge  in  the  wood,  and  eat  hips  and  haws,  his  only 
comforters  being  Mercy,  Pity,  and  Almsdeeds.  In  early  times 
Langlande's  Conscience  fared  better:  he  got  the  King  on  his 
side ;  stood  his  ground  well ;  reproved  Mede  or  Bribery ;  brought 
sinners  to  repentance,  sent  them  seeking  for  truth,  and  remained 
master  of  the  situation.  (See  Langlcmde^s  Vision  of  Piers 
the  Ploughmany  ed.  Skeat,  E.  E.  Text  Soc  1867,  Passus  3-5.) 

A  contrast  of  the  different  evils  complained  of  by  reforming 
writers  in  different  ages,  and  the  comparative  prominence  given 
to  each  vice  by  each  writer,  could  not  fail  to  bring  out  the  cha^ 


COKtfCIENCE.  1 79 

ncteriitics  of  the  succeasive  periodB  of  our  aocial  history,  oud 
be  of  great  interest.  But  though  I  have  some  material  for  it, 
want  of  space  forbids  my  attempting  it  here.  Still,  the  point 
may  be  illustrated  by  looking  at  the  clergy's  hinderers  in  their 
good  work  of  giving,  as  mentioned  in  the  present  poem, 

for  thoir  wines  &  their  childrm  mm  hange  Uiem  Tpun, 
f  Act  whoMMnwr  giaot  wlmrm  deeds  thejr  will  gine  none, 

when  set  beside  Roberd  of  Brunne's  complaints,  in  his  Handlyng 
Synnef  about  the  priest's  mare  or  concubine,  and  the  earlier  one 
uf  the  Old  EtuflUh  Homiliea  (?  about  1200  a.d.)  that  Mr. 
Richard  Morris  will  edit,  probably  in  1869,  for  the  Early  English 
Text  Society : 

And  o5re  fele  lerdemen  speken  aliie  lewede  alse  ore  drihten  seide 
^rh  anes  prophetes  ma6e.  Erit  sicut  popfdus  $aeerdo$,  Prest  sal 
leden  his  lif  alse  lewede  m»n  .  and  swo  hie  dolS  nu6e '.  and  snmdcl 
werse.  For  fe  lewede  man  woHM  his  spose  mid  cloSes  more  |»ane  mid 
bim  selnen .  and  prest  naht  sis  (  =  so  hiH)  chireche,  fe  is  his  spose  S 
ac  his  daie,  fe  is  his  bore .  awlenc5  hire  mid  clones .  more  j^an  him 
sehwn.  De  chircho  clo^Ses  ben  to*brokcne  i  and  calde .  and  his 
wines  shale  ben  hole  i  and  ncwe .  His  alter  doff  great  and  sole  *•  and 
hire  chemise  smal  and  hwit .  and  tv  albo  hoI  i  and  hire  smix;  hwit. 
pe  haned-Hne  Hward  t  and  hire  wimpi*!  wit  .  oN.'r  maked  geloa  mid 
MfTran.  De  mt'MhakoIe  of  meilome  fiuitain  .  and  hire  mentel  g^ne 
o^er  bnmet.  Do  cor]Min*iilrt  hi>U**.  and  tinHluipIiolie  .  hire  handcloNnt . 
and  hirt?  Imnl  cIoffeM  nmktHl  wite  and  luKtlicheon  to  siene.  De  caliz 
of  tin  :  and  hin*  nap  of  uiaz4*rt*  and  rin^^  of  f^ilde.  And  is  |>e  prrst 
»wo  inuc-l)(*lc*  forcuN'ri*  .  |»anf  \*v  Ii'WimIu.  Swo  he  wurffeff  his  lioro 
murr  ^n  hin  Hpimo. — Ui'tnilU*  in  Trinity  CtU,  MS.  a.ik  12W. 

TitiitiihttiitH  Inj    Mr,  UithnM  M^rriM, 

And  nuiny  «itlii*r  Uiinu*«l  men  H]Kiik  aM  the  unlc*anu*d,  as  our  Ijonl 
»)«ke  thmo^h  the  nmuth  of  a  prophet,  Krit  gicut,  ,Sr.  The  prit*tit 
•hall  leail  hi««  life  an  the  laity ;  and  so  they  do  now,  and  Miniewlmt 
fioTH*,  fur  the  layman  honooreth  Iiim  K|KmM*  with  rlothi*M  more  than 
hims«lf,  and  the  priest  m»t  ho  hiH  churc*h,  which  iM  hin  H|K>nHt> ;  but 
bin  day  (maid  H4>rvant),  who  in  hin  whon*,  whom  he  adonu*th  with 
cliithes  more  tlian  himnelf.     The  chtin*h  clothn  are  rag^red  and  old, 


180  CONSCIENCE. 

and  his  woman's  shall  be  whole  and  new.  His  altar  cloth  great 
(coarse)  and  dirty  (soiled),  and  her  chemise  small  and  white ;  and 
the  alb  soiled,  and  her  smock  white ;  the  head  linen  black,  and 
her  wimple  (neck-cloth)  white,  or  made  yellow  with  saffron.  The 
masscloth  of  paltry  fnstian,  and  her  mantle  green  or  bumet;  the 
corporas  soiled  and  badly  made,  her  hand-cloths  and  her  table- 
cloths made  white  and  pleasant  to  the  sight.  The  chalice  of  tin,  and 
her  cup  of  maser  (a  sort  of  hard  wood  gilded  or  inlaid  with  jewels), 
and  her  ring  of  gold ;  and  so  the  priest  is  much  worse  than  the  laity 
for  he  honoureth  his  whore  more  than  his  spouse. 

On  the  question  of  the  rents  asked  by  grasping  landlordfl^  I 
may  quote  a  passage  from  Ascham  used  in  the  Forewords  to  The 
Babeea  Boke,  &c.    (E.  E.  T.  Soc,  1868). 

"  He  says  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset  on  Nov.  21,  1547  {Worker 
ed.  Giles,  i.  140-1), 

'^ '  Qui  auctores  sunt  tantsB  miserise  ?  •  .  .  Sunt  illi  qui  hodie 
passim,  in  Anglia,  prsedia  monasteriorum  gravissimis  annuis 
reditibus  auxerunt.  Hinc  omnium  renim  exauctum  pretium ;  hi 
homines  expilant  totam  rempublicam.  Yillici  et  coloni  uniyersi 
laborant,  parciint,  corradunt,  ut  istis  satisfaciant.  .  .  Hinc  tot 
familise  dissipatse^  tot  domus  coUapsse  .  .  Hinc,  quod  omnium 
miserrimum  est,  nobile  illud  decus  et  robur  Anglise,  nomen,  in- 

qnain,  Yoraanomra  Anglorum^  fractum  et  colliisum  est 

Nam  yita^  qvM  nunc  yiyitur  a  PLURiififit,  non  tita,  sed  mi8eria 

EST.' 

(Wlien  will  these  words  cease  to  be  true  of  our  land  ?  They 
should  be  burnt  into  all  our  hearts.)  " 

Harrison,  in  1577,  speaks  more  easily  about  rents,  and  as  he 
deals  also  with  the  question  of  Usury  or  Interest  noted  in  our 
poem,  I  make  a  long  quotation  from  his  Description  of  England, 
a  book  inyaluable  to  the  student  of  the  England  of  Shakespeare's 
days,  and  which  I  hope  we  shall  soon  reprint  in  the  Extra  Series 
of  our  Early  English  Text  Society.  Harrison  is  speaking  of  the 
"  Three  things  greatlie  amended  in  England  "  in  his  day :"(!.) 
Chimnies;  (2.)  Hard  lodging;  (3.)  Furniture  of  household," 
and  of  the  latter  says : 

The  third  thing  they  tell  of,  is   the  exchange   of  Yessell,  as   of 


|ij^tQ  MWififlUfiA  wooddeu  spooni'H  into  tilaer  or  tto. 
jnfoo  HtnfTo  in  oM  time,  that  n  iniui 
f  Pttwt«r  (of  wbich  oin.'  wns  jx-nul- 
widjfptforall  this  fm^litie ' 


r  nmta  •!  Uioi 


vrithonl  Milling  of 


acarae  &blo  to  Hue  ajid  i 


r  Ml  hor»*e,  c 


^  klthoagh  tlipj  pwd  bat  foaro  pounds  at  tliv  vtt«miost  bjr  tlie 
Sneli  kUo  «ru  tlicir  [uinertiu,  that  if  Nnmo  one  od  farmer  or 
daMn  hM]  biWir  at  the  alelioiuo,  a  thing  ^eatlie  vied  in  tboM 
t  ux  or  wuen  uf  bis  neigbboura,  and  there  in  n  hmaeriD 
Vl>kat  (torp  ho  had,  did  cast  downo  his  pnrsso,  aud  tbeivin  a 
Itnx  •billing*  in  niluer  rnto  them  (for  few  snoh  men  then 
>  gobl  bicaamj  it  WM  not  ho  rrndio  giainivnt,  and  they  wore 
1  to  giae  a  penla  for  tbo  oxchanf!«  of  au  angcll)  it  waa 
e  that  all  the  rat  coalil  n  it  laic  duwno  so  niuch  againiit  it  i 

•  in  taj  tinM',  aUbongh  [joradiieutun]  fuurc  [<ouuds  of  old  rvnt 
1   to  toriie,  fiflio,  iir  an  hnndrvd  pouudii,  yot  will  the 

r  palnu>  or  dat«  troo)  thinko  hia  gwncs  Terio  small 
It  md  of  Ilia  tcrme,    if  bo  bans  not  aix  or  smicn  ycanm 
f  liy  bun,  tbcrawitb  to  pnrvhaM?  a  now  \e*M,  l>esidc  a  fairo 
k  ol  prwter  on  hia  oupbord,  with  so  macb  more  in  od  rcasell 
I  aLoot  ibe  biiiu<<,  IhriV  or  fonre  featli«rbeds,  so  nianle  couerlida 
a  of  ta|iutrii^,  a  siluiT  ult,  a  IkiwIo  for  wino  (if  not  an 
■l)  and  a  douu-n  uf  ii[>ooiini  to  fDruish  vp  the  ante.     Tbia 
i  tiktOt  to  bo  hilt  ownu  eln'ri!,  fikr  what   stucko   of  monia 
I  ffttbenHb  A  Uii^th  vp  in  all  his  ytmrt*,  it  is  oftm  ai^De, 
§<1w>dlonl  will  lakv  nuch  order  with  bim  for  the  aanir,  when 
tf,  wbtL-b  ia  conintonlie  ci|;bt  or  aix  }-mr«s  Itcforv  tba 
it  (ntb  it  i»  now  ^rowvn  aimoat  to  a  ciMamv,  thai  if  b« 
a  lord  to  loof  boibra,  anotbor  altall  at^  in  fur  a  retietw 

0  flafcat  him  out  H|[bl )  liiat  it  aball  neiutr  troable  him  man 
I  bain  of  bia   licard.    wbcB   tba   barbvr  lialb   waahrd   and 

n  hi*  ohin.     And  at  tbfjr  eaminnid  tfaeaie,  au  (bcnile  tba 

•  ft  bouaakmrping  wbenbjr  tbe  poon  baaa  biana  nlimad)  tbaj 

•  al«  of  ibtim  llunga  thai  ara  growra  to  ba  mtm  giimamu  mta 
,  til  wil,  tba  inbanatng  uf  nnta,  btlcUe  meatkmmA ;  tba  dailia 

1  of  oofribnidvra,  whoae  lord*  t^kn  to  briajf  tbdr  poor* 
t  into  plaiux  •nniilndi!  and  miairrie,  dailj-  daoiaing  new 
■iridng  rp  all  tba  uM  buw  to  cut  tbum  aborlar  and 

•  TW  atiMol*  lM>  1*  "Tba  ■«  ta  lt»  Ua*  ef  frankU  tiiha— i." 


4 


182  CONSCIENCE. 

shorter,  doubling,  trebling,  and  now  &  then  seuen  times  increasing 
their  fines,  driuing  them  also  for  enerie  trifle  to  loose  and  forfeit  their 
tenures  (by  whome  the  greatest  part  of  the  realme  dooth  stand  and  is 
mainteined)  to  the  end  they  may  fleece  them  yet  more,  which  is  a 
lamentable  hering.  The  third  thing  they  talke  of  is  vsurie,  a  trade 
brought  in  by  the  lewes,  now  perfectlie  practised  almost  by  enerie 
christian,  and  so  commonlie,  that  he  is  accompted  but  for  a  foole 
that  dooth  lend  his  monie  for  nothing.  In  time  past  it  was  Sorspro 
sorte,  that  is,  the  principall  onelie  for  the  principall ;  but  now  beside 
that  which  is  aboue  the  principall  properlie  called  Vsura,  we  chalenge 
Foenus,  that  is  commoditie  of  soile,  A  fruits  of  the  earth,  if  not  the 
ground  it  selfe.  In  time  past  also  one  of  the  hundred  was  much, 
from  thence  it  rose  vnto  two,  called  in  Latine  Vsura^  Ex  sextanie ; 
thr6e,  to  wit  Ex  quadrante  ;  then  to  foure,  to  wit  Ex  triente ;  then  to 
fine,  which  is  Ex  quiiicunce ;  then  to  six,  called  Ex  semisse,  &c. :  as 
the  accompt  of  the  Assis  ariseth,  and  comming  at  the  last  vnto 
Vs^iira  ex  asse,  it  amounteth  to  twelue  in  the  hundred,  and  therefore 
the  Latines  call  it  Centesiina,  for  that  in  the  hundred  moneth  it 
doubleth  the  principall;  but  more  of  this  elsewhere.  See  Cicero 
against  Verres,  Demosth^n^is  against  Aphohus,  and  Athencetis  lib.  13.  in 
fine:  and  when  thou  hast  read  them  well,  helpe  I  praie  th6e  in 
lawfull  raancr  to  hang  vp  such  as  take  Centum  pro  cento^^  for  they  are 
no  better  worthie,  as  I  doo  iudge  in  conscience.  Forget  not  also  such 
landlords  as  vse  to  value  their  leases  at  a  secret  estimation  giuen  of 
the  wealth  and  credit  of  the  taker,  whereby  they  s6eme  (as  it  were) 
to  eat  them  vp  and  deale  with  bondmen,  so  that  if  the  Iea8s6e  be 
thought  to  be  worth  an  hundred  pounds,  he  shall  paie  no  lesse  for  his 
new  termc,  or  else  another  to  enter  with  hsurd  and  donbtfiLll  conenants. 
I  am  sorie  to  report  it,  much  more  greened  to  vnderstand  of  the 
practise ;  but  most  sorowfull  of  all  to  vnderstand  that  men  of  great 
port  and  countenance  are  so  farre  fix)m  suffering  their  farmers  to  haue 
anie  gaine  at  all,  that  they  themselues  become  grasiers,  butchers, 
tanners,  sh^epmasters,  woodmen,  and  denique  quid  non,  thereby  to 
inrich  themselues,  and  bring  all  the  wealth  of  the  countrie  into  their 
owno  hands,  leaning  the  communaltie  weake,  or  as  an  idoll  with 
broken  or  feeble  armes,  which  may  in  a  time  of  peace  haue  a  plau- 
sible shew,  but  when  necessitie  shall  inforce,  haue  an  heauie  and 
bitter  sequele. — HoUnshedj  vol.  i.  p.  188-189,  ed.  1586. 

The  date  of  the  poem  I  cannot  pretend  to  fix.     "  The  new- 
found land  "  of  1.  91— 

•  "  Bv  the  v<*are  "  is  the  8idenot«. 


CONSCIENCE.  183 

We  banisht  thee  the  country  beyond  the  salt  sea, 
&  sett  thee  on  shore  in  the  new-found  land — 

cannot  refer,  I  think,  to  the  re-dificovery  of  Newfoundland  by 
John  Cabot,  then  in  the  service  of  England,  on  the  24th  of 
Jnne,  1497  {Penny  CycL),    The  date  must  be  later  than  that. 

The  first  three  stanzas  of  the  poem,  which  should  contain 
twenty-one  lines,  in  the  Manuscript  (which  is  written  without 
divisions)  contain  only  eighteen  lines.  Mr.  Skeat  has  sent  me 
two  arrangements  of  them,  of  which  the  following  seems  the 
right  one : 

As  I  waUced  of  late  by  one  wood  side, 

to  god  for  to  meditate  was  my  entent, 
where  vnder  a  hawthome  I  suddenly  espyed 

a  silly  poore  creature  ragged  &  rent^ 

with  bloody  teares  his  face  was  besprent, 
his  fleshe  &  his  color  consumed  away, 
&  his  garments  they  were  all  mire,  mucke,  &  clay ; 

with  turning  &  winding  his  bodye  was  toste, 
***** 


**  good  lord  !  of  my  liffe  depriue  me,  I  pray, 

for  I,  silly  wretch,  am  ashamed  of  my  name ; 

&  I  cursse  my  godfathers  that  gaue  me  the  same." 

this  made  me  muse  &  much  desire 
to  know  what  kind  of  man  hee  shold  bee ; 

I  stept  to  him  straight,  and  did  him  require 
his  name  &  his  seoretts  to  shew  vnto  me. 
his  head  he  cast  vp,  &  wooful  was  hee, 

"  my  name/'  quoih  hee,  **  is  the  causer  of  my  care, 

&  makes  me  scomd,  &  left  here  soe  bare." — F. 


As  :  I  walked  of  late  by  one*  wood  side,  a«  i  walked 

*  to  god  for  to  meditate  was  my  entent,  meditate, 

where  vnder  a  hawthome  I  suddenly  espyed  j  gpj^ 

4         a  silly  poore  creature  ragged  &  rent ;  a  poor 


*  an. — P.  ■  perhaps  On  God. — P. 


184 


CONSCIENCE. 


ragged 
oreatare 


miiedall  g 

over. 

H«  wUhed 

himaelfdeftd, 


bis  name 

oanaed  his 

tnf  able.  ]  2 


wttli  bloody  teares  his  face  was  besprent, 
his  fleshe  &  his  color  consumed  awaj ; 

^  with  turning  &,  winding  his  bodje  was  toste, 
&  his  garments  they  were  all  mire,  mncke,  h  clay. 
"  good  lord  !  of  my  liflfe  depriue  me,  I  pray, 

for  I,  silly  wretch,  am  ashamed  of  my  name  ! 
^my  name,  "  qiioth  hee,  "  is  the  causer  of  my  care, 

&  I  cursse  my  godfathers  that  gaue  me  the  same  !  '* 


iMkedbim 
to  tell  it  me. 


this  made  me  muse,  &  much  desire 

to  know  what  kind  of  man  hee  shold  bee  ; ' 
I  stept  to  him  straight,  &  did  him  require 
16        his  name  &  his  secretts  to  shew  vnto  me.      [page  244] 
his  head  he  cast  vp,  &  wooful  was  hee,^ 
[<<  My  name,**  quoth  hee,  is  the  causer  of  my  care,] 
<&  makes  me  scomd,  <&  left  ^  here  soe  bare.*' 


then  straight- way  he  tumd  him  &  prayd  him^  sit 
dow[ne] 
He  Mid  bis      20     "  &  I  will,**  saithe  he,  "  declare  my  whole  greefe. 
^o^i^:Unee.  ^7  name  is  called  Conscience ; "  wheratt  he  did 

fro[wne] 

he  pined  to  repeate  it,  <&  grinded  his  teethe. 
7 

wben  young  for  while  I  was  young  &  tender  of  yeeres, 

24     I  was  entertained  with  Ktn^s^  &  with  Peeres, 


*  This  verse  is  redundant. — ^P. 

*  To  come  in  below. — P. 

■  Percy,  in  his  Rdiques^  omits  three  of 
these  lines,  and  transfers  line  11  to 
line  18,  where  it  must  be,  at  least,  re- 
peated, without  notice  to  the  reader.  The 
bishop  warns  his  readers  in  his  second 
and  later  editions  that  some  corruptions 
in  the  old  copy  are  here  corrected,  but  not 
without  notice  to  the  reader,  where  it 
was  necessary,  by  inclosing  the  correc- 
tions between  inverted  'commas.'  He 
must  have  therefore  thought  the  omission 


of  lines  9,  10,  and  12,  a  ooirection  not 
necessary  to  be  noticed. — F. 

•  The  verse 

[»  my  name  "  quoth  hee,  *<  is  the  eauaer  of 

my  care,"] 
to  come  in  here. — ^P. 

•  The/ia  like  an/  in  the  MS.— F. 

•  me.— P. 

'  Thoughe   now   silly   wntche^    Tm 
den/d  all  relief, 
Yet  .  .  . — Reliques. 

•  kinges. — Rei, 


CONSCIBMCR. 


185 


**  there  wm  none  in  all '  the  court  that  lined  in  snch  ht 
fiune; 

far  with  the  Kingn  oonncell  he  sate  '  in  Commission ; 
Dokes  Erles  A  Barrons  esteemed  of  my  name ; 

A  how  that  I  lined  there  needs  no  repetition ; 

I  was  ener  holden  in  honest  condition  ; 
for  howsoener  the  lawes  went  in  Westminster  hall, 
when  sentence  was  g^nen,  for  me  th£  wold*  call. 


bf  DokM 


•BdiaUi 


**  noe  Inoombes  ^  at  all  the  landlord  wold  take, 

bnt  one  pore  penj,  thai  was  their  fine, 
A  thai  thej  acknowledged  to  be  for  my  sake ; 

the  poore  wold  doe  nothing  without  conncell  mine ;  tte 

I  mid  the  world  wi'th  the  right  line ; 
for  nothing  that  was  *  passed  betweene  foe  A  fineind, 
bnt  Conscience  was  called  to  bee  at  an  *  end. 


ota^  idMs 


ttevoiM, 


Vo 


**  noe  Merchandise  nor  bargainee  the  Merchants  wold  Md 
nia[ke], 
40        bnt  I  was  called  a  wittenesse  therto; 

no  Tse  '  for  noe  monj,  nor  forfctt  wold  take, 
bnt  I  wold  controwlc  them  if  (hat  thej  did  soe ; 
that  makes  mc  liuc  now  in  grt*at  woe, 
44     fur  then  came  in  pride,  Sat  bans  diitciplo, 

M<it  now  is  *  entertaind  with  *  all  kind  of  people  ; 


1b  Prtte, 


he  bruQirht  with  him  3,  whoHe  iiamen  they  be  these,'® 
ihiit  is  conetounnes,  Li*cher}'e,  vsary/'  beside; 


V 


44     thej   neurr   pr<*uailed   till    they    had*'   wrought   my  whoow. 
downe-fall. 


•  1  m»^.     V. 

•  ih^t  «t»U.     P. 
Mii^nr*     P 

•  thai  WM) 

•  ih«  -P 


mimiiUot.^P- 


•  Unow.-fW.  •of.- P. 

*•  thiu  thoT  cmil—Bei, 

'*  •  Ac  prhir '  vu  mhM  htrr  in  Che  MS., 
th^o  •irwk  oat  with  a  haarj  ink  utrok*. 
the  mcid  of  which  hsa  csteo  tb«  pAp«r 
•w«y.  -F. 

**  AiW  omitc«d.— M. 


186 


CONSCIENCE. 


I  tried 
abroad, 


52 


soe  pride  was    entertained,  bnt  Conscience   was 
deride.* 

yet  8t[i]ll  ^  abroad  haue  •  I  tryed 
to  bane  bad  entertainment  witb  some  one  or  otber, 
bnt  I  am  reiected  &  scorned  of  mj  brother. 


then  the 
Court; 


bnt  was  told 
to  pack  off  to 
St.  Bartholo- 
mew's. 


"  then  went  I  to  the  ^  court,  the  gallants  to  winn, 

bnt  the  porter  kept  me  out  of  the  gates, 
to  Bartlwew  *  spittle,  to  pray  for  my  sinnes,^ 
66        they  bad  7  me  goe  packe  me ;  it  was  fitt  for  my  state ; 
"  goe,  goe,  threed-bare  conscience,  Sd  seeke  thee  a 
mate!" 
good  Lord  !  long  preseme  my  "Ktngj  Pirinoe,  A  Qneene, 
with  whom  ener  more  I  bane  esteemed  *  beene  I 


Next  I  tried      50 

London, 

but  they 


sent  me  off 
too. 


64 


"  then  went  I  to  london,  where  once  I  did  wonne,' 
bnt  they  bade  away  wtth  me  when  th6  knew  my 
name; 
"  for  he  will  vndoe  vs  to  bye  A  to  sell," 
they  bade  me  goe  packe  me,  &  hye  me  for  shame, 
they  longht  at  my  raggs,  &  there  had  good  game  ; 
"  this  is  old  threed-bare  Conscience  that  dwelt  with 

St.  Peete[r] ; 
bnt  they  wold  not  admitt  me  to  be  a  chimney  sweeper. 


I  spent  my 
last  penny 
in  an  awl  and 
patches  to 
cobble  shoes, 


"  not  one  wold  receine  me,  the  Lorc2  god  doth  know. 
68        I,  haning  bnt  one  poore  pennye  in  my  pursse, 
of  an  aule  ^^  &  some  patches  I  did  it  bestow ; 
I  thought  better  to  * '  cobble  shooes  then  to  doe  worsse. 


perhaps  decried. — P. 

now  ever  since. — Rel, 

Only  half  the  u  in  the  MS.— F. 

the  omitted. — Rel. 

Bartlemew. — Bel, 

Sin.— P. 

me  omitted  in  If'  ed?,  restored  in 


2»f— /?<?/. 

'  esteemed  Tve. — ^P.    I  eon*  esteemed 
have. — Rd, 

*  perhaps  dwell,   (idem) — ^P.     dwelt 
Rrl. 
»•  On  an  awl.— P. 
>>  For  I  thought  better.— !?«?. 


OOHSaBHCE.  187 

then  all  they  *  Coblera  they  began  to  cnnee,  twt  the 
7fl    A  by  ttatnte  the  wold  prone  me  *  I  was  a  ronge  A  widMBwoat 
forlor[ne,] 
A  they  whipt  *  me  ont  of  towne  to  see  ^  where  I  was 
home. 


**  then  did  I  remember  A  call  to  my  minde 
ther  conrt  *  of  conscience  whore  once  I  did  ait,  i  trM  tte 

Cboftof 

not  doubting  bat  there  some  &yor  I  shold  find. 


for*  my  name  A  the  place  agreed  soe  fitt. 
bat  therof  my  ^  purpose  I  &yled  a  whitt, 
for  the  *  iudge  did  rse  my  name  in  enerye  condiciou  *     tattiMvt  um 
ao    fur  Lawyers  with  their  qu[i]llett8 >*  wold  get  a*'  ;[if«dM 
dismission. 


**  then  Westminster  hall  was  noe  place  for  me ; 
good  god ! ''  how  the  Lawyers  began  to  assemblee ;  tivRlin 

A  fearfull  they  were  lest  there  I  shold  be  !  vtmjwn 

the  silly  poore  clarkcs  began  to  tremblee ; " 
I  showed  them  my  cause,  A  did  not  dissemble. 

■oe  then  they  ganc  me  some  mony  my  charges  to  beare,  g.^  g^ 

bat  thcry  ^*  swore  me  on  a  booko  I  must  nea^^r  come  there.    bStm«ie  ■>• 

logo. 


ss     "then*^  the  Merchants  said,  *  counterfeite,  get  thee  Tb»mv^ 

CiMUllStOO 

away,  tnmud 

<i<mi  thfiu  rMiifiiiU'r  how  wc»e  tlii»o  fonnd?  '• 
we  ImniHht  thct*  the  count n'  Wyond  the  Halt  sea, 
d  Hett  thif  on  slion*  in  the  new-found  land,'^ 


»  ihe.-P.  »•  Thi-  Uvrm— qoillHii.— P. 

ilmm^iJ^emti.     V.  "my.     HJ. 

Ab4  whipp  -/?#/.  »•  lonl.     /W. 

•^rkr      Aw.  *'  trt-mM*-.— /W. 

T>i.  r»«ii  — P.  '•  /Ary  irtnitird.— /Prf. 

**,tli       IM  '»  Nrxt.     M. 

thrrr  i.f  inT.     H.    •urwof  my. — Nff.  '*  ion«l.  -  iM. 

nm\      U.i.'  *'  loud.— P.     Uiul.— fTc/. 


188 


CONSCIENCE. 


92        &  there  thow  &  wee  most  freindlj  shook  hands  ; ' 
&  we  were  verry  *  glad  when  thou  did  refuse  vs, 
for  when  we  wold  reape  proffitt  heere  •  thou  wold  ^ 


accuse  vs. 


to  I  had  to 
go  to  Oentle- 
men'BtaouMs, 
•od  tell  them 
I  had  made 
their  fore- 
fathers grant 
jnatlc 


They  cursed 
me. 


"  then  had  I  noe  way  but  for  to  goe  an* 
96        to  gentlemens  houses  of  an  ancyent  name, 

declaring  my  greeffes;  &  there  I  made  moane,  [iMge  ms] 
&  ^  how  there  ^  forfathers  had  held  me  in  fame, 
&  in  letting  of  their  ffarmes  I  alwayes  Ysed  the  same.* 
100   th^  sayd,  "  fye  vpon  thee  !  we  may  thee  cursse  ! 
they  haue  leases^  continue,  &  we  &re  the  worsse.*' 


At  last  I  waa 
driven  to 
husband- 
men; 

but  land-         104 
lords  had  left 
tiiem  no- 
thing to  give 
away; 


■o  I  am  in 

this  wood, 

and  eat  hlpe     108 

tend  haws, 


(( 


but  am 
comforted 
by  Mercy, 
Pity,  and 
Almsdeeds.* 


&  then  I  was  forced  a  begging  to  goe 
to  husbandsmens  houses ;  who  greeved  right  sore, 
who  sware  that  their  Landlords  had  plaged  them  so 


sore 


10 


that  they  were  not  able  to  keepe  open  doore, 
nor  nothing  th6  ^^  had  left  to  giue  to  the  pore, 
therfore  to  this  wood  I  doe  repayre 
with  hepps  &  hawes  ;  that  is  my  best  &re. 


''  &  yet  within  this  same  desert  some  comfort  I  haue 

of  Mercy,  of  pittye,  &  of  almes-deeds, 
who  haue  vowed  to  company  me  to  my  "  graoe. 
IIS       wee  are  ill  *'  put  to  silence,  A  line  vpon  weeds ;  ^* 

our  banishment  is  their  vtter  decay, 

the  w^ich  the  rich  glutton  will  answer  one  day." 


'  hond. — ^P. 

*  right. — Rd. 

*  proffitt  heere  omitted. — Rel, 

*  woldst. — Rel. 

*  on. — Be/. 

*  Te]liug.—Rel. 
'  their. — P. 

*  And  at   letting   their  farmes   how 
always  I  came. — Rel. 


*  their  leases,  i.  e.  the  indulgent 
let  by  onr  foie&thers. — P. 

»•  8oe.—Rel, 

"  (the)  redundant,—P. 

"  tiy  in  the  MS.-F. 

"  an.—Rel. 

i«  and  hence  such  cold  hoQMkeepi]^ 
proceeds. — Bel. 


C058CIIKCE. 


189 


**Oolette 
1. 


*  why  then,"  I  laid  to  him,  **  meihinkes  it  were  beet 
lie       to  goe  to  the  Clergee ;  for  dealje '  th£  preeoh 
eehe  man  to  lone  yon  abone  all  the  reet ; 
of  mercj  A  of  Pittie  A  of  ahnee  they  doe  *  teeoh." 
**0,"  nid  he,  **no  matter  of  a  pin  what  they  doe  i^b* 
preach, 

lie  far  their  winee  A  their  children  soe  hang^  them  Tpon,   tiHirgi«!S 
thai  whoeoener  g^nee  almee  deeds '  they  will  ^  g^ne 


•ood;  tbdr 
wlwand 


tt 


then  Laid  he  him  downe,  A  tamed  him  away, 
pimyd  *  me  to  goe  A  leaoe  him  to  reet, 
114    I  told  him  I  might  hi^ppen  to  *  lee  the  day 

to  hane  ^  him  A  hie  fellowes  to  line  with  the  beet ; 
*  **  fint^**  laid  hee,  **  yon  mnst  banieh  pride,  A  then  inSirt 

all  Enghufid  were  blesti* 
A i^then  thoee  woldloae  veMatnow  sells ' ^  their  hmds,'* 
lee  A  then  good  hoosee  enerye  where  wold  be  kept'*  oat  of 
hand." 

flins. 


*  «Uilj.— p. 

■  dtmls  omitU^l.-  M. 

*  It  ooffht  ID  justice  and  Truth  to  b^ 

*  Ami  pcttjd.   'ftei- 

*  bapli^  might  yH. — Rei, 


*  This  line  written  ■•  two  in  the  MS. 
-  F. 

*  Fint  Mid  he,  hanith  IVrde:  Thee 
all  EngUmd  were  blest— P.  Theeemnke 
two  lince  in  the  MR— F. 

••  For.— ^*/. 

II  m.11.— iW. 

»«  Und.-K 

I*  bonir-keepiog  wold  rrrire. — Rti, 


> 


190 


Says  Shakespeare's  Henry  V. : 

You  shall  read,  that  my  grandfiither 
Never  went  with  his  forces  into  France, 
Bat  that  the  Scot  on  his  unfumisht  kingdom 
Came  pouring,  like  a  tide  into  a  breach, 
With  ample  and  brim-fullness  of  his  force ; 
Ghalling  the  gleaned  land  with  hot  assays ; 
Qirdling,  with  grievous  siege,  castles  and  towns, 
That  England  being  empty  of  defence 
Hath  shook  and  trembled  at  th'  ill  neighbourhood. 

Perhaps  the  best  account  of  the  expedition  celebrated  in  the 
following  ballad  is  given  by  Fordun.  "The  local  accuracy," 
observes  Surtees,  "  with  which  Fordun  describes  the  advance  of 
the  English  army  from  Auckland,  ....  infers  that  his  account 
must  have  been  received  from  eye-witnesses."  Other  accounts 
are  furnished  by  Elnighton,  Walsingham,  Froissart.  Harl  MS. 
No.  4843  contains  an  ancient  monkish  poem  on  it. 

The  confidence  of  the  Scotch  King  is  amusingly  represented 
in  the  First  Part  of  the  ballad. 

Oddly  enough,  nothing  is  said  of  the  Queen,  who,  though 
probably  Froissart  exaggerates  the  part  she  played,  yet  was 
certainly  not  remote  from  the  scene  of  the  conflict.  One  would 
have  expected  her  presence  to  have  been  made  much  of  by  the 
ballad-writer. 

John  Copeland,  who  captured  the  King,  was  a  Northumbrian 
esquire.  He  was  afterwards  Governor  of  Berwick  and  Sheriff  of 
Northumberland. 


>  Fought  Oct^  17,  1346,  at  St.  Nevirs  inrode  (sic)  into  England  by  the  Scotts, 

Cross,  near  Durham.     "  An  excellent **  &    the    taking   of   their    King,   while 

[ha{f  9cratched  out'L—F.  Edward  3^  waa  in  France. — ^P. 

Old    Ballad.      The    Subject    is    the 


B1JRHAM   FBILDB. 


191 


LOBDINOES,  listen,  A  hold  7o[a]  >  still ; 

hearken  to  me  » litle ; 
I  ibftU  joa  teU  of  the  &ircflt  battell 

ikal  eoer  in  England  beffell. 


•Ddl-UMl 
fMiof  sfilr 
Mttte. 


far  M  it  befeU  in  Edward  the  3t  dayes,' 
in  England,  where  he  ware  the  crowne, 

then  all  the  cheefe  chinaliy  of  England 
thej  busked  *  A  made  them  bowne  ^ ; 


lu. 


•llhto 
kttifMt 


thegr  chosen  all  the  best  archers 

ikai  in  England  might  be  found, 
and  all  was  to  fight  with  the  King  of  ffrance 
IS        within  a  litle  stoonde.* 


ttemad 


leflcM 


and  when  oar  King  was  oner  the  water, 

and  OB  the  salt  sea  gone, 
then  tjdings  into  Scotland  came 
la        ikmi  all  England  was  gone ; 


ilM 


bowes  and  arrowcs  they  were  all  forth, 
at  home  was  not  left  a  man  * 

bot  shepards  and  Millers  both, 
A  prciNU  witli  flhauen  crowncfl. 


Utatoomn 
aivkft  Ui 

EDflMMl 

batmlUfra 


14 


then  the  King  of  Scotts  in  a  study  ntood, 

as  he  wan  a  man  of  great  might  ; 
he  aware    *  he  wold    hold   hiH    Parlamrn/   in   leeuo  ^ 
London 

if  he  cold  ryde  there  right.* 


ThfBcoCrh 
kin* 


rWtolo 


?  Hi*. .  it  mjr  I*  v»».  -  K. 

*  Whrli  h'A^ni  thr  d*        V. 
I*.  3»7.  •«.  4«.  inf  MM.)- P. 

.  pwmiitii.  1*  -I*. 

*  sttmmti,  •ignum,   moment Qfn,    »pa- 
»*»».  bun,  tcmro*.     I-ye — I*. 


•  mon.  V.  Sf«  Tol.  i.  p.  217, 1.  1<»9. 
-F. 

'  Lt'ere,  prrh«|«  the  nme  aa  lerf. 
lief,  leif,  il«^r,  lieluvM — A.-S.  /ei/ii,  Mg. 
lu/,  Teut.  /irA,  i'h*ntii,  itminui,  gr«lu%. 
UloM^toiUvr  IXHigUs.     H. 


192 


DURHAM   FEILDE. 


A  sqnire 


telUhimhe'U 
me  his 
resolTB, 


for  irtiJch 
the  King 


kills  him, 


to  nooneelse 
d«reesay  a 
word* 


then  bespake  a  Squier  of  Scottland  borne, 
&  sBjd,  "  mj  leege,  apace, 
^  before  jou  come  to  leeue  London 
28        fnll  sore  jonle  me  tJiat  race  ! 

"  ther  beene  bold  jeomen  in  merry  England, 

husbandmen  stiffe  <fe  strong ; 
sharpes  swords  thej  done  weare, 
32        bearen  bowes  &  arrowes  longe." 

the  Kmg  was  angrye  at  that  word, 

a  long  sword  ont  hee  drew, 
and  there  befor  his  rojall  companje 
36         his  owne  squier  hee  slew. 

hard  hansell  had  the  Scottes  ihat  day 

that  wrought  them  woe  enoughe, 
for  then  durst  not  a  Scott  speake  a  word 
40        ffor  hanging  att  a  boughe. 


[page  346] 


Jamee  tells 
the  Earl  of 
Angnsto 
lead  the  Tan, 


44 


'*  the  Earle  of  Anguish,'  where  art  thou  ? 

in  my  coate  armor  ^  thou  shalt  bee, 
and  thou  shalt  lead  the  forward  ' 

thorrow  the  English  countrye. 


(( 


and  pronisefl 
him  North - 
amherland. 


take  thy^  yorke,"  then  sayd  the  Knt^, 
"  in  stead  wheras  it  doth  stand ; 
He  make  thy  eldest  sonne  after  thee 
48         heyre  of  all  Northumberland. 


To  the  Earl 
of  Bnchan  he 
promine 

Derbyshire ; 


52 


"  the  Earle  *  of  Vaughan,*  where  be  yee  ? 

in  my  coate  armor  thou  shalt  bee  ; 
the  high  Peak  <fe  darbyshire 

I  giue  it  thee  to  thy  fee." 


'  Earl  of  Angus.— P. 

'  Cote-Armour.  A  name  applied  to 
the  tabard  by  Chaucer  and  others. 
Fairholt.— F. 

*  Taward. — P.    There  is  a  tag  to  the 


d  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  thee,  i.  e.  to  thee. — ^P. 

*  The  /  is  made  over  an  e. — F. 

*  It  shoirld  be  Baughan,  i.  e.  Bnchan. 
—P. 


DDRHAM    niLDK. 

tfam  OMDO  in  &ni<>tu  Dongtas, 

■Ir-.  "  wItBi  »lmil  my  meede  bee  P 
A  n*  loul  tlio  rHirvud,>  Lord, 

tlmrow  lliL-  Kiit[liali  ootmtiTe." 

■  take  tbae  Worater,"  aayd  the  King, 

"Tazborjo,*  EiUmgworth,  Bnrton  vpon  trait; 
do*  tbtm  not  uj  uiother  dfty 

1m1  I  bMM  Kiaea  thee  luidfl  ^nil  mat. 

'  Sir  Bichorrf  of  Edenborrow,  where  are  yee  P 

ft  wiM  man  in  this  wirr ! 
n*  graa  tlwe  Briatow  ft  the  ahira 

tba  time  Uot  wee  oome  there. 

**  my  Lord  NeriD,  where  beene  jee  ? 

joa  mttrt  in  thia  warraa  bee! 
Da  giae  thee  Shrawabuje,"  Huea  the  Kmg, 

"  aad  Cooeotrje  &ira  ft  free. 

**  mj  Lord  of  HamUeton,  where  art  Ihon  ? 

tboa  art  of  my  kin  ftdl  nye ; 
lie  gine  thee  tincobie  ft  Linoobicahire, 

ft  fAata  enoQgo  for  thee." 

by  then  came  in  Wiliiam  Douglas 

aa  breeme  *  aa  any  bore ; 
be  kneeled  him  downe  vpon  his  knees, 

in  bis  hiut  he  sighed  sore, 

aaies,  "  I  base  somed  yon,  my  lonelye  leege, 

this  30  winters  and  4, 
ft  in  the  Marehen  <  betweene  Eagland  ft  ScotUand 

I  bane  beene  woanded  ft  beaten  sore  ; 


'  L*.UMVaa.tba  Vwiguui].  Ft.  araat-  *  MuvbMk  NaAni^  liraiir*.   alK^JM 

Bfd*.  L  — P.  tnritijni:      ntrr      mI      Mirt      ttralis. 

•  «.  US.-F.  ManA.  m  Uadauk.  tu.     VkL  Ljr.  id 

'  »**>.  brat,   ■tlul,  ctDal.    *hun  JaD.~P, 


194 


DURHAM   FEILDE. 


aad  askti 
what  hi  n  re- 
ward is  to  be. 


'*  for  all  the  good  service  thut  I  hane  done, 

what  shall  my  meed  bee  ? 
&  I  will  lead  the  vanward 
84        thorrow  the  English  countrye." 


"Whatever 

yon  ask," 

an«iMnera 

Jamefl. 

•'  Then  I  ask 

for  London." 


James 

ref uses  that, 


but  gives 
DongUw  N. 
Wales  and 
Cheshire, 


'*  aske  on,  donglas/'  said  the  King, 

"  &  granted  it  shall  bee." 
'*  why  then,  I  aske  litle  London,*'  saies  William 
Douglas, 
88       "  gotten  giff  thai  it  bee." 

the  'King  was  wrath,  and  rose  away, 

saies,  "  nay,  that  cannot  bee  ! 
for  that  I  will  keepe  for  my  cheefe  chamber, 
92        gotten  if  it  bee  ; 

"  but  take  thee  North  wales  A  weschaster, 

the  cuntrye  all  round  about, 
&  rewarded  thou  shalt  bee, 
96       of  thai  take  thou  noe  doubt." 


makes  100 
new  knights 


and  gives 
them  the 
English 
towns. 


They  make 
ready  for 
battle, 


but  the 
English 
Commons 
meet  them, 
and  let  none 
escaiw ; 


100 


5  score  Isinighta  he  made  on  a  day, 
&  dubbd  them  with  his  hands ; 

rewarded  them  right  worthilye 

with  the  townes  in  merry  England. 


&  when  the  fresh  knt^^ts  they  were  made, 

to  battell  th6  buske  them  bowne  ;  ^ 
lames  Douglas  went  before, 
104        &  he  thought  to  haue  wonneil  him  shoone. 

but  the  were  mett  in  a  morning  of  May 

With  the  comminaltye  of  litle  England ; 
but  there  scaped  neuer  a  man  away 
108        through  the  might  of  christes  hand, 


»  See  Page  397,  st  46  [of  MS.].— P. 


DCBHAM   FEILDB. 


195 


bot  all  onelj  lames  Douglas ; 

in  Durham  in  the  ffeild 
an  arrow  stroke  him  in  tho  thyo. 
lit       &at  flinge[B  he]  towards  the  Ktn^. 

the  King  looked  toward  litle  Durham, 

saies,  "  all  things  is  not  well ! 
for  lames  Dowglas  beares  an  arrow  in  his  thje, 
!!•       the  head  of  it  is  of  Steele. 


wbots 


and  Asm  to 

ilMKillff. 


''how  now  lames  P  "  then  said  the  Kin^, 

**  how  now,  how  may  this  bee  ? 
A  where  beene  all  thy  merrymen 
110       That  thon  tooke  hence  wtth  thee  P  " 


hte 


Cl»f»M7) 


bot  cease,  my  Km^,"  saies  lames  >  Douglas, 
**  aline  is  not  left  a  man  !  *' 
now  by  my  faith,**  saies  the  King  of  soottes, 
1S4       **tkai  gate'  was  euill  gone ; 


it 


**  bnt  Dc  reueuge  thy  quarrell  well, 

A  of  iMai  thou  may  be  fainc  ; 
for  one  Scott  will  beate  5  Englishmen 
iss        if  the  meetcn  them  on  tho  plaine.*' 

**  now  hold  yotir  tonnge/*  saies  Tames  Douglas, 

"  for  in  faith  fhai  is  not  soe  ; 
for  one  English  man  is  worth  5  Scot  is 
1 39        when  they  mceten  together  thoe ; 

'*  for  they  arc  as  Egar  men  to  fight 

an  a  faalcon  v|x>n  a  pray, 
alaff  !  if  en^r  the  wbne  the  vanward, 
134        there  scapes  noc  man  away.** 


AU 


one  toot  U  a 
9«icli  for 
Svc  Eofluh. 


DtOflAS 


**oo^  Bnf* 
lljibman  U 
worth  flro 


they  kt  no 


'  lames  in  th9  Ur^.-V. 

*  goU.  rim  m  waj  :  nuuvb  ur  valk.  Lye.~P. 

o3 


196 


DUBHAM   FEILDE. 


A  herald 
reports  to 
James 


"  O  peace  thy  talking,"  said  the  Kingy 

"  they  bee  but  English  knaues, 
but  shepards  &  Millers  both, 
140        &  [mass]  preists  -with  their  stanes." 

the  Kitig  sent  forth  one  of  his  heralds  of  armes 

to  yew  the  Englishmen. 
"  be  of  good  cheere,"  the  herald  said, 


that  he  has 

English  one,   144        "  for  against  one  wee  bee  ten." 


"  who  leades  those  Ladds  ?  "  said  the  King  of  Scottes, 

"  thou  herald,  tell  thou  mee." 
the  herald  said,  "  the  Bishopp  of  Durham 
148        is  captaine  of  thut  company e  ; 


whom  the 
Bishop  of 
Durham 
leads. 


for  the  Bishopp  hath  spred  the  Ktn^s  banner 

&  to  battell  he  buskes  him  bowne." 
"  I  sweare  by  St.  Andrewes  bones,"  saies  the  King, 
152        "He  rapp  tJuit  preist  on  the  crowne ! 


99 


Jamos  sees 


Lord  Percy 
in  the  field. 


There,  too, 
are  Lords 
York,  Car- 
lisle, 

and  two  Fitz- 
Williams. 


156 

2^  part^ 


[Part  n.] 

"The  King  looked  towards  litle  Durham, 
&  that  hee  well  beheld, 
thai  the  Earle  Percy  was  well  armed, 
With  his  battell  axe  entred  the  feild. 


160 


the  King  looket  againe  towards  litle  Durham, 

4  ancyents  there  see  hee ; 
there  were  to  standards,  6  in  a  yalley, 

he  cold  not  see  them  with  his  eye. 


My  Lord  of  yorke  was  one  of  them, 
my  lord  of  Carlile  was  the  other ; 
&  my  Lord  ffluwilliams, 
1 64        the  one  came  with  the  other. 


DDfillAM   FEILDB. 

the  Bishopp  of  Darham  commanded  Lib  men, 

A  shortljo  he  them  bade, 
*  thai  nener  a  man  ahold  goe  to  the  feild  to  fight 
lis       till  he  had  semed  hiji  god.* 


197 

Tbt  Blflhop 

oitlenaUhii 
tolicari 


500  preista  said  maiifle  thai  day 

in  darham  in  the  feild  ; 
&  ailcrwarda,  as  I  hard  saj, 
17t       they  bare  both  spearo  A  shecld. 

the  Biahopp  of  Darham  >  orders  himselfe  to  fight 

With  hia  battell  axe  in  his  liand  ; 
he  nid,  *'  thia  day  now  I  wiU  fight 
I7C       aa  long  aa  I  can  aland !  " 

**  k  Boe  will  I,*'  sayd  my  Lonl  of  Carlile, 

^  in  this  faire  morning  gay ;  " 
*'  k  aoe  will  I/'  said  my  Lord  fflawilliams, 
180       **  for  Mary,  (hat  myld  may/' 

oar  EnglJHh  archors  bent  their  bowes 

short lv(*  and  anon, 
thi-y  hhott  ow^r  the  ScottiKh  Oast 
IM        it  fti*antlvi*'  toucht  a  man. 


AOO 


C^ 


Mid  then 


MdOMtlM 


CariW* 


MMlthe 

FtuvilUaoM 
■wfwrtfo 


Ourarchen 
flnt 


hitfb. 


**  hold  downe  yof/r  liandx,**  savd  the  BiHhopp  of  Darham,  Thr  ninbop 
"my  arfhtTrt  jrood  A  true.*'  ui tiniui i«w. 

the  2*  hhoote  thai  the  .nhott, 
!•§         full  M in '  the  SootteH  itt  me. 


the  Iii»hopp  of  Durham  s|x>ke  on  hyo 

that  lioth  |Kfrty(*H  mi^ht  heare, 
**U-  of  pMNl  ehwn*,  my  merrymen  all, 
I9s        the  Seott.H  fly  en,  A  ehun^'U  there  cheen* !  ** 


They  il«», 
•n«l  |Kink«h 


*   Uurl.Aii  lu  3IS.  -K. 


•  si-Aiitljr.  M-arcely. — I*. 


198  DURHAM   FEILDB. 

but  as  th^  saidden,  Boe  th^  didden, 
who  fau  in  thej  fell  on  heapes  hye ; 

our  Englishmen  laid  on  with  their  bowes 
196       as  fast  as  they  might  dree. 

King  James  1  The  King  of  Scotts  in  a  atad  je  stood  [puce  us} 

amoligst  his  companye, 
through  th«  ^^  arrow  stoke  him  thorrow  the  nose 


nose, 


200       &  thorrow  his  armorye. 


the  King  went  to  a  marsh  side 
gctsofl hie  ^  light  beside  his  steede, 

he  leaned  him  downe  on  his  sword  hilts 
204       to  let  his  nose  bleede. 

there  followed  him  a  yeaman  of  merry  England, 
and  is  fiain-  his  name  was  lohn  of  Coplande : 

yield  by  an  "  yeeld  thee  Traytor  !  "  saies  Coplande  then, 

yeoman.        208        **  thy  liffe  Ivos  in  my  hand/' 

Copland.  ^  >f  ^ 

"  how  shold  I  yeeld  me  P  *'  sayes  the  Kxng^ 
jamce  "  &  thou  art  noe  gentleman." 

'*  noe,  by  my  troth/'  sayes  Copland  there, 
212        '*  I  am  bnt  a  poore  yeaman ; 


refuses. 


"  what  art  thon  better  then  I,  Sir  King  ? 

tell  me  if  that  thon  can  ! 
what  art  thon  better  then  I,  Str  King^ 
216       now  we  be  but  man  to  man  P  " 

and  strikes  *'^®  King  smoto  angerly  at  Copland  then, 

at  Copland,  angerly  in  that  stonde  «  ; 

&  then  Copland  was  a  bold  yeaman, 
who  floors      220       &  boro  the  Kiyig  to  the  ground. 

'  Here  a  short  leaf  is  inserted  in  the      small  one  of  most  of  his  notes. — ^F. 
MS.  in  a  more  modem  hand,  Percy's  lat«  •  stound. — ?  Percy. 

upright  hand,  differing  from  the  early 


DURHAM    FETLDK. 


199 


he  lett  the  Kin^  upon  a  Palfrey, 

hiniflclfe  upon  a  stcode, 
he  tooke  him  by  the  bridle  rayne, 
tS4       towarda  London  he  can  him  Lead. 


potN  Hln  on 
ft|Mdfif7, 


•nd  takes 
him  u> 
Lomlon. 


A  when  to  London  thai  he  came, 

the  Kintj  from  ffrance  was  new  come  home, 
A  there  unto  the  King  of  Scottcs 

he  layd  these  wonls  anon, 

**  how  like  you  my  shepards  A  my  millers, 

my  priests  with  shaven  crownes  P  " 
'*by  my  fayth,  they  arc  the  sorest  fighting  men 
S3S        Mat  ev«r  I  mctt  on  the  ground ; 


whtn  Kinf 
EdwanlU. 


44 


Bilw«rdMki 
JaniMlMtv 
b^HknbU 
mlllffVMid 


••Thry*rt 

ttekmnteaC 

flffbt«r«I 


there  was  never  a  ycaman  in  merry  England 
bat  he  was  worth  a  Scottish  linighiV* 
'*  I,  by  my  troth/'  said  Ki'n^  Edward,  A  laagho, 
taa       **  for  yon  fuaght  all  against  the  right.*' 

but  now  the  Prince  of  merry  England 

worthilye  ander  his  Sheelde 
hath  t:i!ven  the  King  of  ffrance 
340        at  PoTticrA  in  the  fii*flde. 

the  Prince  did  prcsi*nt  his  father  with  thai  food,* 

the  loufly  King  off  ffrance, 
A  fforwanl  of  hin  Iminioy  he  is  ^>ne : 
244        ^(k1  Hoiul  US  all  c(nn1  chanre! 


'•  vou  skTv  welroiiie,  bn»th'*n* !  *'  sayd  the  Kin«/ of  Scotts,  «**  >-»*h  »»• 

•  'f  ^  '    ^t^\  the 

to  thv  Kiug  tif  ffrance,  »<*  t^ii  Kinc 

**  for  I  am  iMnii*  hither  to  soone ; 
Chriiil  U-vw  thai  I  ha«l  taken  my  way 
341        uuto  the  cuart  of  ll4jome  !  ** 


TheKlBff  of 
Fnincp  la 
•!-«•  tak'n 
at  ruu-tl«n 


br  the  Ulwk 
Prince. 


•  ftMl  or  ft^^Ury.     I*       Perwio     •^  iiot#  ■,  p.  4M.  rol.  i  —  F 


200 


DURHAM   FEILDE. 


wiHh  they 
had  kept  out 
of  England. 


Darham 
Field, 


CroBsy,  and 
Poictiere, 
all  won  in  a 
month  I 

Then  was 

wealth 

and  mirth  in 

England, 


and  the  King 
loved  the 
yeomanr}- 1 


"  &  soe  wold  I,"  said  the  Khig  of  ffrance, 

"  when  I  came  over  the  streame, 
tJiai  I  had  taken  my  loumej 
262        unto  lomsalem.** 

Thus  ends  the  battell  of  fiaire  Darham 

in  one  morning  of  may, 
the  battell  of  Cressej,  &,the  battle  of  Potyers, 

All  within  one  months  day. 


[pH(e249] 


256 


260 


God  save 
him,  and  the 
yeomen  too  I 


264 


then  was  welthe  &  welfare  in  mery  England, 

Solaces,  game,  &  glee, 
&  every  man  loved  other  well, 

&  the  King  loved  good  yeomanrye. 

but  God  that  made  the  grasse  to  growe, 

&  leaves  on  greenwoode  tree, 
now  save  &  keepe  our  noble  Kiiig^ 

&  maintaine  good  yeomanry !  flSnis.* 


*  (^Pencil  note  in  Perct/s  late  hand.) 
"  This  &  2  following  Leaves  being  un- 
fortunately torn  out,  in  sending  the  sub- 
sequent piece  [King  Estmere]  to  the 
Press,  the  conclusion  of  the  preceding 
ballad  has  been  carefully  transcribed ; 
and  indeed  the  Augments  of  the  other 
Leaves  ought  to  have  been  so." 

Tlic  loss  of  Kinff  Estmere  is  much  to 
be  lamented.  It  was,  perhaps,  the  best 
ballal  in  the  Manuscript.  l*ercy  says 
in  the  2nd  edition  of  the  Reliques, 
p.  59,  that  *•  this  old  Romantic  Legend . . 
is  given  from  two  copies,  one  of  Ihem  in 
the  Editor's  folio  MS/';  but  we  have  not 
been  able  to  find  the  second  copy.  It  is 
not  in  the  other  small  MS.  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Bishop's  descendants  now. 
It  is  evident  at  a  glance  that  Percy  must 
have  touched  up  the  ballad  somewhat, 
as  in  line  4  he  has  y-wcre^  were,  for  a 
perfect  tense,  y  being  the  past  participle 
prefix ;  and  a  comparison  of  the  first 
three  editions  with  the  4th  shows  what 
liberties  he  took  with  the  (supposed) 
text  of  the  MS.  Some  of  these  will  be 
pointed  out  in  a  note  at  the  end  of  this 
volume.    The  thing  to  be  noticed  here  is 


that  Percy  must  have  deliberately  and 
unnecessarily  torn  three  leayes  out  of 
his  MS.  when  preparinff  his  4th  edition 
for  the  Press,  and  after  he  had  learnt — to 
use  his  own  words — to  retference  the  MS. 
These  leaves  were  in  the  MS.  till  that 
time,  as  he  says  in  his  note  on  "  Ver.  253. 
Some  liberties  haTe  been  taken  in  the 
following  stanzas ;  but  wherever  this 
edition  differs  from  the  preceding,  it 
hath  been  brought  nearer  to  the  folio 
MS.''  As  the  aifferences  of  the  fourth 
from  the  other  editions,  after  t.  253, 
am  only  in  spelling  Umked,  *  looked,'  and 
wyfe,  'wiffe,'  we  must  take  the  latter 
part  of  Percy's  sentence  to  apply  to  the 
whole  ballad.  By  tearing  out  the  leayes 
he  has  prevented  us  fiiom  knowing  the 
extent  of  his  laige  chan|;es,  and  has 
sacrificed  not  only  the  original  of  the 
whole  of  Kinff  Estmere  but  also  the  first 
22  (or  more  or  less)  stanzas  of  Guy  and 
Phiilis,  of  which  his  version  is  printed 
in  the  Heliques  iii.  143,  4th  ed.,  and 
Child's  BaUads  i.  63-6.  I  calculate 
Percy's  additions  to  Estmere  and  the 
lost  part  of  Guy  at  40  lines.  — F. 


201 


[A  fimgment.] 

iIm  Ora^nl  Introduction  to  all  the  Oay  Po^nt  in  Gujf  ^  Oolehrande  Maw, 
The  brgianing  of  this  Pbem  was  on  one  of  the  torn-oot  lenret  of  the  MS.) 


In  winiior  fibrrcRt  I  did  nlaj 

a  bore  of  paming  might  &  strenghi,* 
whose  like  in  England  nou^  was 
4        for  hngncme,  both  for  breadth  &  lenght ; 

some  of  his  bones  in  warwicke  jrett 

wi'thin  the  Castle  there  doth'  Lje ; 
one  of  his  sheeld  bones  to  this  day 
8        doCh  hang  in  the  Citje  of  Couentrye. 

on  Dnnsmore  heath  I  alsoe  slewe 
a  might je  wjrld  A  cmell  beast 
caUd  the  Dnnoow  of  Dnnsmore  heath. 
If        wAach  many  people  had  opprest ; 

Mimo  of  her  iKines  in  warwirko  vctt 
thiTu  for  a  monument  doth  *  lye, 
wAiVh  vnto  vvkvry  hMikcn  vi*ue 
U        nil  wondenmH  Htrange  thi*y  may  espyt*. 

an«>tht«r  dmpm  in  this  liond 

in  fiirht  I  nlmie  did  di^Mtmye, 
whi(  did  Uitht*  nit*n  A  bi*aHtM  oprowH*, 
10         A  all  the  cvmntrve  Horv  unove; 

A  then  to  warwirke  c.*ame  ainiino 

likr  Pilirrim  imnre.  A  wiut  not  knowen  ; 
A  xlwrv  I  liuitl  a  HvmiittH  Hflt* 
24         a  mile  A  mure  out  of  the  towue  ; 


[piftSM]    UWlmkor 
eMC 


Ob 
1 


tiMDn 
Gov, 


arr  •!«»  In 
Warwick. 


AnoChfT 
I>nia««  I 
•laoalrw. 


ani  thrti 
cmmp  liwk 
U>  Warwfc-k. 


ami  llTf«l  a 
bvvmU  •  lifr. 


'  Titl,  wntiiu  in  I.T  I*.     K       '  •rrvnicht  in  the  MS  — F.        "  «lo.— K       *  du  — I' 


202 


GUT   AND    PIIILLI8. 


in  a  care 
cut  ont  of  a 
rock, 


and 

begged  my 
food  at  my 
own  castle 
of  my  wife. 


At  last  I  f  eU 
sick, 

sent  her  a 
ring, 


and  she 
closed  my 
dying  eyes. 


I  died  like  a 
palmer  to 
save  my  louL 


You  may 
tee  my 
statue  now. 


28 


44 


48 


where  with  my  hands  I  hewed  a  house 
out  of  a  craggy  rocke  of  stone, 

<&  lined  like  a  palmer  poore 

within  the  cane  my  selfe  alone  ; 


&  daylye  came  to  begg  my  foode 

of  Phillis  att  my  castle  gate, 
not  knowing  *  to  my  loued  wiflTe, 
32        who  daylye  moned  for  her  mate ; 

till  att  the  last  I  fell  soe  sicke, 

yea,  sicke  soe  sore  thai  I  mnst  dye. 
I  sent  to  her  a  ring  of  gold 
36        by  which  shee  knew  me  presentlye ; 

then  shee,  repairing  to  the  grane, 
befor  that  I  gane  vp  the  ghost 
shee  closed  vp  my  dying  eyes, 
40        my  Phillis  faire,  whom  I  loued  most. 


thus  dreadfull  death  did  me  arrest, 
to  bring  my  corpes  vnto  the  graue ; 

Sd  like  a  palmer  dyed  I, 

wherby  I  sought  my  soule  to  saue. 


tho  now  it  be  consumed  to  mold, 
my  body  that  endui«d  this  toyle, 

my  stature  ingrauen  in  Mold 

this  present  time  you  may  behold. 


ffins. 


*  knowen. — ^P. 


203 


9obn  :  a  :  J^Oit^ 

The  reacue  of  a  prisoner  was  a  favourite  subject  with  the 
Lai  lad-makers  of  the  Borden.  There  are  in  the  Minstrelsy  of 
ike  Scottish  Border  ^  no  fewer  than  three  poems  on  the  rescue 
of  prisoners,  the  incidents  in  which  nearly  resemble  each  other; 
though  the  poetical  description  is  so  different,  that  the  editor 
did  not  think  himself  at  liberty  to  reject  any  one  of  them  as 
borrowed  from  the  others.**  These  three  are  JoiJc  o*  the  Side^ 
KinnwfU  Willie^  and  Archie  of  Ca'juld.  The  ballad  here 
given  for  the  first  time  is  vitally  the  same  with  Jodb  o*  the  Side. 
The  perM>ns  are  partly  changed :  Sybill  o*  the  Side  takes  the 
place  of  the  Lady  Downie  of  Scott*s  ballad ;  Much  the  Miller*s 
Son  answers  to  the  Laird*s  Salt  Wat,  though  as  the  Folio  copy 
does  not  give  the  names  of  the  five  who  accompany  Hobbie 
Noble,  the  I^aird^s  Saft  Wat  may  have  been  one  of  them.  The 
incidents  differ  very  slightly :  as  at  Culerton  or  Cholerford,  when 
the  rescuers  are  going  and  returning,  at  Newcastle  where  the 
MhwtreUy  copy  brings  in  *^  a  proud  porter  '*  to  \ye  duly  made 
away  with,  at  the  gaol  on  the  way  back,  where  that  same  copy 
givefi  the  lianter  with  which  the  heavy-ironed  prisoner  was 
aMailed  by  his  triumphant  frieutls.  The  Folio  copy  is  a  very 
fresh,  Taluable  vernion  of  the  iMillail. 

•*  Tlie  reality  of  this  story,"  nays  Scott,  **  rests  solely  upon 
the  foundation  of  tradition.  Jock  o*  the  Side  seems  to  have 
been  nephew  to  the  laird  of  Margertoun,  cousin  to  the  Laird*s 
J«ick,  one  of  his  deliverers,  and  probably  brother  to  Chrystie  of 
the  Svde,  mentioned  in  tlie  list  of  bonier  clans,  1597.  Like 
the  I«aird*H  Jock,  he  is  also  comnieniorated  by  Sir  Richard 
M  ait  land : 


204 


JOHN  :  A  :  SIDE. 


Ho  is  well  kend,  Johne  of  the  S}-de. 
A  greater  theif  did  never  ryde ; 
He  never  tyris 
For  to  brek  byris, 
Our  muip  and  myris 
Ouir  gude  and  guide. 


John-a-Side 
is  taken, 

and  lent 
prisoner  to 
Newcastle. 


His  mother, 
8ybill, 


tells  Lord 
Mangcrton. 


PeETER  a  whifeild  »  he  hath  slaine ; 

&  lohn  a  side,  he  is  tane ; 
h  lohn  is  bound  both  hand  h  foote, 
4        h  to  the  New-castle  he  is  gone. 

but  Tydinges  came  to  the  Sybill  o  the  side, 

bj  the  water  side  as  shoe  rann ; 
shee  tooke  her  kirtle  bj  the  hem, 
8         h  fast  shee  mnn  to  Mangerton. 


Lords  and 

Ladies 

lament, 


12 


the  Lord  was  sett  downe  at  his  meate ; 
when  these  tydings  shee  did  him  tell, 
neiier  a  Morsell  might  he  eate. 

but  lords  the  wrunge  their  fingars  white, 
Ladjes  did  pull  themselues  hj  the  haire, 

crying  "  alas  and  weladay  ! 

for  lohn  o  the  side  wee  shall  neuer  see  more  '  ! 


and  vow  to 
lose  their  all 


or  xescue 
him. 


16     "  but  weele  goe  sell  our  drones  of  Kine, 
<&  afber  them  our  oxen  sell, 
&  after  them  our  troopes  of  sheepe, 
but  wee  will  loose  him  out  of  the  New-castelL" 


Hobby  Noble 
offers  to 
fetch  John, 
with  five 
men. 


20     but  then  bespake  him  hobby  noble, 

&  spoke  these  words  wonderous  hye, 
sayes  "  giue  me  5  men  to  my  selfe, 
&  He  feitch  lohn  o  the  side  to  thee." 


[l»ge2U] 


»  ?  The  first  i  may  be  ^— F. 


•  maire. — P. 


JOHN  :  A  :  SIDE. 


205 


S4     ^^  joa,  thoofit  hauo  5,  hobby  noble, 

of  the  best  that  are  in  this  coontrye ! 
Do  giuo  thee  5000,  hobby  Noble, 
thai  waike  in  Tyuidale  tmlye.** 


pftNBIfll 

MOO; 


"  nay,  lie  haue  bat  5,**  saies  hobby  Noble, 
**  thai  shall  walke  away  with  mee  ; 

wee  will  ryde  like  noe  men  of  warr ; 
bat  like  poore  badgers  *  wee  wilbe.*' 


95  they  staffet  vp  all  their  baggs  with  straw, 

&  their  steeds  barefoot  mast  bee  ; 
'*  come  on  my  brotheren,*'  sayes  hobby  noble, 
*'  come  on  your  wayes,  &  goe  with  mee.** 

96  &  when  they  came  to  Calerton  '  ford, 

the  water  was  vp,  they  cold  it  not  goe  ; 
&  then  they  were  ware  of  a  good  old  man, 
how  his  boy  &  hce  were  at  the  plowe. 

io    **  bat  stand  yoa  still,*'  sayes  hobby  noble, 
'*  stand  you  still  hcore  at  thin  shore, 
Si  I  will  rvdt*  to  yonder  old  man, 
ic  mt?  wi'n»  tlu'  giite  *  it  L^'fH  ore. 


44     '*  hot  rhriMt  yoa  Kaut%  father/*  Qfi^^th  hoe, 
**  crwi  l>oth  you  Haue  and  bo*  ! 
whfn»  i»  the  way  uu^r  thiii  flVird  ? 
for  chrii%ts  luiko  t4*ll  itt  nii*t* !  ** 


boiHobbj 

WttlOBlj 

iMivtSvet 


Caknoa 
Pofd  fladliho 


Hobby 


anokl 


Ch»«ay 

OT<T  UW 

forO. 


4»     "but  I  liAUf  dwellc<l  been*  l\  ncnrv  yoere, 
MN*  haul*  I  done  'I  neon*  and  li ; 
I  nc'U''i*  Hawf  nuin  nor  h«)rsH4«  pH*  on* 
rxcvpt  itt  wen?  a  hon*4*  of  i{.*  ** 


't  trU  It. 


'  C'h*ll.fftom  |«ruUI>l7.     IV 


•  War.  fttnl. — K 

•  Trvr.  40.— I*. 


206 


JOHN  :  A  :  SIDE. 


Hobby  tells 
him  to  go  to 
the  devil, 


52     "  but  fare  thou  well,  thou  good  old  man  ; 
the  devill  in  hell  I  leave  with  thee ! 
noe  better  comfort  heere  this  night 
thow  giues  my  bretheren  heere  &  me." 


and  rides 
back  to  his 
mates. 

They  find 
the  ford, 


56     but  when  he  came  to  his  brether  againe, 
<fe  told  this  tydings  full  of  woe, 
<&  then  they  found  a  well  good  gate 
they  might  ryde  ore  by  2  and  2. 


and  get  safe       50 
orer, 


and  when  they  were  come  oner  the  fforde, 

all  safe  gotten  att  the  last, 
"  thankes  be  to  god  !  '*  sayes  hobby  nobble, 

"  the  worst  of  our  perill  is  past.'* 


cut  down  a 
tree,  33  ft. 
high, 


64     &  then  they  came  into  howbrame  wood, 

&  there  then  they  found  a  tree, 

&  cutt  itt  downe  then  by  the  roote ; 

the  lenght  was  30  ffoote  and  3. 


carry  it  to 
John-a- 
Bide's  prison, 


68     &  4  of  them  did  take  the  planke 
as  light  as  it  had  beene  a  fflee, 
&  carryed  itt  to  the  Newcastle 
where  as  lohn  a  side  did  lye ; 


and  climb  np 
to  where  he 
is  lamenting 
hia  fate. 


72     &  some  did  climbe  vp  by  the  walls, 
&  some  did  climbe  vp  by  *  the  tree, 
vntill  they  came  vpp  to  the  top  of  the  castle 
where  lohn  made  his  moane  trulye  : 


He  takes 
leave  of  his 
mother 
Sybill, 


76     he  sayd,  "  god  be  with  thee,  Sybill  o  the  side ! 
my  owne  mother  thou  art,"  Qiioth  hee, 
"  if  thou  knew  this  knight  ^  I  were  here, 
a  woe  woman  then  woldest  thou  bee  ! 


MS.  eaten  through  by  ink. — F. 


«  night.— P. 


JOHN  :  A  :  SIDE. 


207 


*'&  fiuv  yoa  well,  Lon/  Mangerton ! 

&  en^  I  say  '  god  be  with  thee !  * 
for  if  joa  knew  this  night  I  were  heere, 

jon  wold  tell  jonr  land  for  to  loose  mee. 


•4     **&  fiuv  then  well,  Much  Millers  sonne ! 
llach  Millars  sonne,  I  say ; 
thoa  has  beene  better  att  Merke  midnight 
then  eo^  thoa  was  att  noone  o  the  day. 


ofLMfd 


otMudbVm 
Mntar'ti 


'*  A  hn  thou  well,  my  good  Lord  Clongh  ! 

thoa  art  thy  fiathers  sonne  &  heire ; 
thoo  nener  saw  him  '  in  all  thy  lifie, 

bnt  With  him  dnrst  thoa  breake  a  speare. 


ft 


«« 


are  brothers  childer  9:  or  :10: 
A  sisters  children  10:  or  :11: 
we  ntner  come  to  the  feild  to  fight, 
bat  the  worst  of  as  was  coanted  a  man.*' 


fandlyto 
1i 


bat  then  bespake  him  hobynoble, 

A  Kpakc  thew)  wordit  vnto  him, 
igii«*i«,  **  fi]eep4>Mt  thou,  wnkeHt  thou,  lohn  o  the  side, 

or  art  thou  thin  castle  wi'thin  ?  ** 


nobbjt«iii 


l(.M>     *'  Hut  who  in  thon%**  QiMth  lohn  oth  Kide,       ( 
*•  /A*it  kiiowpN  my  namo  nop  right  A  fn»e  ?  ** 
**  I  am  a  bantanl  brother  of  thine  ; 

thin  night  I  am  comt*n  for  to  loono  thee.** 


W] 


lofMthlai. 


i'>4     **  now  liar,  now  nay,*'  quoth  I«»lin  othe  side  ; 
*Mtt  fTfarpff  me  sore  thni  will  not  Ih*o  ; 
tt*»r  a  |Nvkt*  of  ^M  A  nilver/*  lohn  i^ytl, 
**  infaith  this  night  will  not  Iooho  niec.** 


.-F. 


208 


JOHN  :  A  :  ^1D£. 


but  Hobby      108     but  then  bespake  him  hobby  Noble, 

&,  till  his  brother  thus  sayd  hee, 
sayes,  '*  4  shall  take  this  matter  in  hand, 
and  2  shall  tent  onr  geldings  ffree." 


says  his  four 
can  do  it. 


112     for  4  did  breake  one  dore  without, 
They  break  then  lohn  brake  5  himsell ; 

and  get  to  but  when  they  came  to  the  Iron  dore, 

the  fion  one,  , 

it  smote  12  ypon  the  bell. 


Much  feara 
they'U  be 
taken. 


116     "  itt  ffeares  me  sore,*'  sayd  much  the  Miller, 
*'  thai  heere  taken  wee  all  shalbee." 
"  but  goe  away,  bretheren,"  sayd  lohn  a  side, 
"  for  euer,  alas !  this  will  not  bee." 


Hobby 

reproaches 

him, 


120     "  but  ftjQ  vpon  thee  !  "  sayd  Hobby  Noble  ; 
"  Much  the  Miller !  fye  vpon  thee ! 
"it  sore  feares  me,"  said  Hobby  Noble, 
"  man  thai  thou  wilt  neuer  bee." 


files  down 
the  iron 
door, 

takes  John 
out, 


124     but  then  he  had  fflanders  files  2  or  3, 
h  hee  fyled  downe  thai  Iron  dore, 
h  tooke  lohn  out  of  the  New-castle, 

<&  sayd  "  looke  thou  neuer  come  heere  more  !  " 


128     when  he  had  him  fforth  of  the  Newcastle, 
"  away  w/th  me,  lohn,  thou  shalt  ryde." 
but  euer  alas  !  itt  cold  not  bee ; 

for  lohn  cold  neither  sitt  nor  stzyde. 


wraps  siheets 
round  his 
chains, 

and  sets  him 
on  a  horse 


132     but  then  he  had  sheets  2  or  3, 

&  bound  lohns  boults  fast  to  his  ffeete, 
&  sett  him  on  a  well  good  steede, 
himselfe  on  another  by  him  seete. 


JOHN  :  A  :  8IDS. 


209 


136     then  Hobbj  Noble  smiled  &  long^,' 

Ar  spoke  these  words  in  mickle  pryde, 
**  thou  sitts  soo  finely  on  thy  geldinge 
thaty  lohn,  thon  rydes  like  a  bryde." 

1 4o     St  when  they  came  thorrow  bowbraue  towne, 
lohns  horssc  there  stambled  at  a  stone  ; ' 
**  out  A  alas  !  "  cryod  much  the  Miller, 
**  lohn,  thoule  make  vs  all  be  tane.*' 

144     *'  but  fye  vpon  thee!  "  saies  Hobby  Noble, 
**  much  the  Millar,  fye  on  thee  ! 
I  know  full  well,'*  sayes  Hobby  Noble, 
**  man  //i<it  thou  wilt  neuer  bee  !  *' 


ICnaiUM 

MllkrgvU 

Into 


•adliaffBla 
noblMdby 
Hobbj 
Nobto. 


148     &  when  ih6  came  into  bowbrame  wood, 
he  had  fHanders  files  2  or  3 
to  fill*  lohns  bolts  beside  his  fieeto, 
thai  heo  might  ryde  more  casilye. 


whoftoioff 
John's 
chalmfRNn 
htofwi. 


152     saves  lohn,  "  Now  leape  ouer  a  steede,** 
A  lohn  then  hee  lope  oner  5  : 
**  I  know  well/'  wiyes  Hobby  Noble, 
**  Ii>lin,  thy  fffllow  in  not  aliue  !  '* 


HMmipoQ 
John  b«pa 
orrr  &▼• 
bonw. 


li6     then  In-  bmnj^ht  him  home  to  Mangerton ; 
the  liop/  then  he  was  att  luM  nieate  ; 
but  whin  lohn  o  the  hide  he  there  did  set*, 
for  faine  hee  coM  ntK»  more  eate ; 


bnin«  to 


lO)      he  haves  **  blent  U»  thou,  Hobbv  Noble, 
thai  euer  thou  wa«t  man  lM»me! 
thou  ha*»t  feiteluni  vk  home  j»ihhI  lohn  oth  side 
thni  was  now  eleane  ffn>m  v»  gone  !  '* 

ffillH. 


Lrml 


Hobby 


•  luoghr.-p. 


*  ttAiie.  - 1\ 


*'U  II 


210 


This  ballad  is  printed  in  the  Reliques,  "  from  two  MS.  copies, 
one  of  them  in  the  Editor's  folio  collection.  They  contained  (sic) 
considerable  variable  variations,  out  of  which  such  readings  were 
chosen  as  seemed  most  poetical  and  consonant  to  history." 

On  the  subject  see  the  Introduction  to  "The  Earle  of  West- 
morelande,"  vol.  L  p.  292,  and  Percy's,  in  the  ReliqueSy  i.  248, 
!■?  ed. 


Listen, 


and  ni  tell 
all  about  it. 


Listen,  linely  lordings  all, 

&  all  thut  beene  this  place  within  ! 

if  youle  gine  eare  vnto  my  songe, 

I  will  tell  yon  how  this  geere  did  begin. 


The  Earl  of 
Westmore- 
land 

tnmcd 
traitor ; 


8 


It  was  the  goad  Erie  of  westmorlande, 

a  noble  Erie  was  called  hee ; 
&he  wrought  treason  against  the  crowne ; 

alas,  itt  was  the  more  pittye  ! 


80  did  the 
Earl  of 
North- 
umberland. 


12 


&  soe  itt  was  the  Erie  of  Northumberland, 

another  good  Noble  Erie  was  hee, 
they  tooken  both  vpon  one  part,  [page  267] 

against  their  crowne  they  wolden  bee. 


Earl  Percy 
tellB  his  wife 


he  mn8t 
fight  or  flee. 


16 


Earle  Pearcy  is  into  his  garden  gone, 
&  after  walkes  his  awne  ladye  '  ; 

"  I  heare  a  bird  sing  in  my  eare 
thai  1  must  either  ffight  or  fflee." 


»  A.D.  1569.  N.B.— To  correct  this 
by  my  other  copy,  which  seems  more 
modern. — P.     The  other  copy  in  many 


parts  preferable  to  this. — Pencil  note. 

'  This  lady  was   Anne,  daughter   of 
Henry  Somerset,  E.  of  Worcester. — RH. 


BI8IX0B  IN  THB  NOBTHB.  211 


"  fjfod  fibrbidd,*'  ahee  sajd,  "  good  my  lord, 

that  euer  boc  thai  it  shalbee  ! 
but  goc  to  London  to  the  conri, 
to         &  faire  fikU  tmth  &  honcstyo  ! " 


*'  bat  nay,  now  naj,  mj  Ladje  gay,  H«  a^B 

/A/ft  cn<rr  it  shold  soc  bco ; 


loapto 


my  treason  ia  knowen  well  enonirhe ;  i^i*' 

14         att  the  court  I  moat  not  boo.*' 


"  bnt  goo  to  the  Coart !  yet,  good  my  Lomt^,  steniB 

■lytt^o  to 
take  men  cnowo  wi'th  thee ;  eourt  vitii 

phiitT  III 

if  any  man  will  doe  yon  wronge,  wmtr 

ts         your  warrant  they  '  may  bee." 

**  bnt  Nay»  Now  Nay,  my  Lady  gay,  Bo^mspbUw 

for  aoe  itt  must  not  bee  ; 
If  I  goo  to  the  court,  Ladye,  te  •wUdbo 

33         death  will  strike  me,  A  I  must  dye.'* 

"  but  goc  to  the  Court !  yett,  [good]  my  Lord, 

I  my-iielfo  will  r\*dc  wi'th  theo;  *^  *!*"•* 

,  lowHIihiai. 

if  any  man  will  doo  yon  wrongo, 
M  yoMr  Iwrrow  •  I  ulialUH*.'* 

•*  but  Nay,  Now  nay,  my  I  July  gay.  He  itiu 

for  MM*  it  muKt  not  Ihh^  ; 
fur  if  I  gne  to  the  Court,  Ladye, 
4o  thou  muHt  me  nener  nee. 


"  but  rome  hither,  thou  litlo  fitotpaee,  batimiiia 

come  thou  hither  vnto  moc. 


for  thou  Nhalt  goo  a  MoMtagi*  to  M'M/^r  Norton 
44  in  all  the  haiit  /Ant  eUf-r  may  Ihh*  : 

'  alur»^i  fmm  tkrm.^  F.    th^jr.-  P.  frit*  juik«nr,  mdimoniain.  pignnik    KS. 

r3 


T»C 


^  -Hi 


-    s-S".^   y  trn.i:^ 


--»■. 


•.\  1 


-  ^.  ■    r   :   i-Ti    —  - 


Hx 


RlfilNGB  Uf   THS  NORTHS. 


213 


76 


*'  but  come  jou  bitber,  my  9  good  sonnes, 
in  mcnB  estAto  I  tbinko  jon  bee  ; 

bow  many  of  yon,  my  cbildren  deare, 
on  my  part  that  wilbe  ?  " 


hifl 
own  oliM 

wbowiUbe 
oohkiid*. 


80 


but  8^  of  tbcm  did  answer  soone, 

ii  spake  ffoll  bastilye, 
sayes  "  we  wilbe  on  your  part,  ffathcr, 
till  tbe  day  thai  we  doe  dye.*' 


BifhtTim 


tote  with 
hImtotiM 


»4 


"  but  god  amcrcy,  my  cbildren  deare, 

A  cner  I  say  godamercy ! 
St  yett  my  blessing  you  sball  baue, 

wbetber-soeuer  I  Hue  or  dye. 


l|MC«tM] 


HH 


**  but  wliat  say  St  tbou,  tbou  firancis  Nortton, 
mine  eldest  sonno  &  mine  beyre  trulye  ? 

some  good  councell,  (Francis  Nortton, 
tliis  day  tbou  giue  to  me.*' 


H«Mktbk 

ckkiitKW, 

TnutciM, 
foradvies; 


Vi 


**  but  I  will  ^^iuc  yon  councell,  flatber, 
if  you  will  take  councell  att  mec ; 

for  if  you  wohl  take  my  count-ell,  father, 
a^u.st  the  cruwne  you  hIioM  not  bee." 


and  tM* 
aiunrrr* 


rw>n*t  0o 
B«nUii«t  the 
Cruwn. 


VC. 


**  but  ffyv  vjM»n  t!je<*,  (Trancis  Nortton  ! 

1  Hav  ffve  \'\H)ii  tlu-e  ! 
wlu-ii  thou  was  youn^f  A  tender  of  age 

1  made  flull  muc!i  of  thee." 


Nurton 
hi*  «on 


hm 


**  but  yof^r  hea*!  is  white,  (father,"  he  sues, 
*'  A  voi/r  lK*anl  ih  wonderous  irrav  ; 

itt  Wfnr  lihilme  (Tor  yonr  countrve 
if  )ou  Hhold  riM4»  Jt  (llee  away." 


214 


BISINGB  IN   THE  NORTHS. 


and  calls  him 
a  coward. 


104 


"  but  ffye  vpon  thee,  thou  coward  firancis  ! 

thou  neuer  tookest  that  of  mee  I 
when  thou  was  younge  &  tender  of  age 

I  made  too  much  of  thee." 


Francia 
offers  to  go 
nnarmed, 
bat  invokes 
death  on 
traitors. 


Norton  and 
his  men  join 
theBarlB 


at  Wether- 
by; 


they  have 
13,000  men. 


Westmoro- 
land'H. 
standard  is 
the  Bun 
Bull, 


Northum- 
berland's the 
halX-moon. 


"  but  I  will  goe  with  you,  father,"  Quoth  hee  ; 

"  like  a  Naked  man  will  I  bee  ; 
he    thut    strikes    the    £bTst    stroake    against    the 
crowne, 
108         an  ill  death  may  hee  dye !  " 

but  then  rose  vpp  Master  Nortton  that  Esquter, 

with  him  a  ffuU  great  companye ; 
&  then  the  Erles  they  comen  downe 
112         to  ryde  in  his  companye. 

att  whethersbye  th6  mustered  their  men 

vpon  a  ffuU  fayre  day  ; 
13000  there  were  scene 
116        to  stand  in  battel  ray.* 

the  Erie  of  Westmoreland,  he  had  in  his  ancyent* 

the  DuME  bull  in  sight  most  hye, 
&  3  doggs  with  golden  collers 
120        were  sett  out  royallye. 

the    Erie    of    Northumberland,    he    had    in    his 
ancyent  * 
the  halfe  moone  in  sight  soe  hye, 
as  the  Lore?  was  crucifyed  on  the  crosse, 
124        &  sett  forthe  pleasantlye. 


'  array. — P. 

'  Ensign,  standard.  St-e  vol.  i.  p.  304, 
for  the  Dun  Bull.  That  of  Nevill 
(Chevet,  Co.  York ;  granted  1513),  is  "A 
greyhound's  head  erased  or,  charged  on 
the  neck  with  a  label  of  three  points, 
vert,  between  as  many  pellets,  one  and 
two."  The  crost  of  NeviU  (Ireland),  is  a 
greyhound's  head,  erased  argent,  cellared 


gules,  charged  with  a  harp  or.    Burkes 
Armorie, — F. 

■  Burke  gives  the  Percy  (Duke  of 
Northumberland)  badge  as  '  A  crescent 
argent  within  the  horns,  per  pale,  sable 
and  gules,  charged  with  a  double 
manacle,  fesseways  or.'  Armorie,  1847' 
— F. 


UfiUCGI  Ul  THB  HOICTHS.  215 

A  after  them  did  rise  good  Sir  Ooorge  Bowes.*  MrO.Bovw 

after  them  a  spoyle  to  make ;  thMi. 

the  ErloH  returned  backe  againe,  rhtf  ton 
in        thonght  eaer  thai  Knufht  to  take. 

this  Barron  did  take  a  Castle  then, 

wan  made  of  lime  A  stone ; 
the  vttermost  walls  were  ese  to  he  woon ;  to*  tte 

13S        the  Erles  haoe  woon  them  anon ;  oi hiteMiw 

bnt  tho  they  woone  the  vttermost  walls 

qaickly  and  anon, 
the  innermnst  *  walles  ih6  cold  not  winn. 

bat  MB*t 

I3S        th^  were  made  of  a  rocke  of  stone.  win  tb* 


Kewsof  tlM 


bnt  newes  itt  came  to  leene  London 

in  all  they  speede  thai  ener  might  bee ; 
A  word  it  came  to  onr  royall  Qncene  UmOtm, 

140        of  all  the  rcbelb  in  the  North  coontxye. 

shee  turned  her  grace  then  once  about,  niMbtch 

■wean  iliell 

A  like  a  royall  Quecne  shee  sware,'  kItv  the 

mveii,  '*  I  will  ortluiiie  tliem  such  a  bn?ako-fast        bcmkraKt 

'  ^  tbry  mtin't 

144         SJi  waH  not  in  the  North  thin  hJ^Jt)  yccro!*'  ftomacii. 

shtM*  cauHcd  :{<  h  h  H »  mem  to  l)c  mack*  pi^  ^^j, 

with  horHHO  Hiul  lianu'is  all  ({uicklyc  ;  *'•*'** 

Sl  hliiv  ciiusihI  :tiNHN)  men  to  ))c  made 
I4«$         to  take  the  relK'Hu  in  the  North  countryc. 


thev  t4ioke  with  them  the  fiiliM»  EHe  of  Warwicke,  ■r**.^*^ 

MM*  (lid  they  nmny*  another  man ; 
vntill  they  emnie  to  yorke  Ciuitle,  Thij  morvh 

151         I-win  they  neu«r  Htiuted  nor  hlan. 

*  ItfVM.     I*.  uol>lf9.  an  Vfll  ai  Uiz  thrir  rani     /iV« 

"  icrmwi  io  MM.     I*.  /.^m/«.  i   'i.Vi.   -K. 
'  TLi*  M  i|uii«  in  ckanctrr  .  hvr  ma-  *  Uulv  half  th«  m  in  tb<-  MS. —  F. 

^rUj    W«U1     iuBiHiBra    twraT    at    li*r 


216 


BISINQE  IN   THE   MORTHE. 


but  West- 
moreland, 


Northum- 
berland, 


and  Norton 
flee  like 
cowards. 


156 


"  spread  thy  ancyent,  Erie  of  Westmoreland ! 

The  halfe  moone  ffaine  wold  wee  see !  "       [page  3593 
but  the  halfe  moone  is  fled  &  gone, 

&  the  Dan  ball  vanished  awaye ; 
&  flrancis  Nortton  &  his  8  sonnes 

are  ffled  away  most  cowardlye. 


Ladds  with  mony  are  counted  men, 
160         men  without  mony  are  counted  none ; 
but  hold  yowr  tounge  !  why  say  you  soe  ? 
men  wilbe  men  when  mony  is  gone. 

ffins. 


317 


B^rtijumberlanli  x  Setrapli  bp  :  Sot»gbi0*' 

[A  Sequel  to  tkt  precodiog.^P.] 

ThI8  bftliad  is  printed  in  the  Reliques  (from  another  copy)  and 
elm-where. 

After  the  dispersion  of  their  forces,  the  rebel  Earls  of 
Westmoreland  and  Northumberland  sought  refuge  in  the 
liorders.  See  Introduction  to  Earl  of  Westmorelandj  vol.  i. 
p.  294.  Neville  found  his  trust  in  the  Borderers  justified;  but 
Percy  was  betrayed  to  the  Regent  Moray  by  Hector  Graham 
(not  .\rmstrongy  as  the  ballad,  v.  209,  calls  him)  of  HarLw; 
whutte  name  became  thenceforward  infamous,  to  take  Hectar'a 
duke  becoming  a  proverbial  phrase  for  betraying  a  friend. 
Moray's  successor,  the  Earl  of  Morton,  who  during  his  exile  in 
England  has  received  many  kindnesses  from  Northumberland, 
^sold  his  unhappy  prisoner  to  Elizabeth,"  in  May  1572.  He 
delivered  him  up  to  I^»nl  Hunsdon,  governor  of  Berwick,  who 
M*nt  him  to  York,  wlicre  he  wa«  executcHl. 

Tlie  extniiiitiun  of  the  refugee  by  Morton  gave  as  deep  dis- 
Kiti*(faction  to  the  country  at  lar^e  as  his  l>etniyal  by  Hector  of 
llarlaw  ili<l  to  the  Borderers.  Manv  furious  ballads  mmie  their 
appeamnct*,  a8  -^  Aiie  exclauKitioii  maid  in  England  upone  the 
drivverance  of  the  Erh*  of  North  umber  Ian  furth  of  Lochlevin, 

m 

^iiho  imme<Iiattlie  tliairefter  was  extnnite  in  Yorke,  1572  ' — the 
aiifimer  to  thtt  English  ballad,  *  Ane  ik^hort  inveccyde  maid  agnnis 
the  delyverance  of  the   Erie  of  Xurthuml>erhmd.*     The  present 

•  ^^  h'j**  .**iM#T  ^^ing  an  rnrh*iitr»'iw  onnttr^i  hi»rv.-  I*. 

«  'iM  t-aTr  uTt«l  bim.  frum  h«T  Hr^)thrr*«  N.li.  Thv    ofh»r     ('<»pT   bripnt   w)th 

•T'l**'  *Tj    -Y.  Iji)«-«    the*    fuim<*   m»   that    io   pair.    1 1'.*. 

Thi«  M»ng  M'«^fn«  aofint«hr»l. — I*.  \F.*trlt  '•/   Wrttmortiamif  \.    3<H».l      Th«* 

N'  it    Mt  Mhrr  ^'*^>y  \%  mor*-  <*«jiT<H*t  imuiitri'U    uHcu    nukle   ■och     Chaii^^r*. 

itkaa  tbia.  aoJ  cocttaioa  mach  mhtcXx  i«  — INocil  note. 


218 


SOSTHUMBERLAXD  BETRATD   BT   DOWGUI& 


ballad  60  far  recognises  this  national  feeling  as  to  inbtxluoe  a 
Scotch  woman  using  Ler  utmost  endeavours  to  preserve  the  Earl, 
from  the  snare  laid  for  him.  Marr  Douglas'  represents  Sootia. 
But  the  Earl  will  not  listen.  He  goes  away  with  her  brother, 
his  keeper,  to  be  the  victim  of  a  second  betrayal,  which  was 
finally  to  conduct  him  to  the  scaffold  at  York. 


ni  tell  yon 
bow  I>ou^laR 
betmjol 

Fszcy* 


]^J^OW  list  &  lithe  yon  gentlemen, 

&  Ist  tell  you  the  veretye, 
how  they  hane  delt  with  a  banished  man, 

drinen  out  of  his  countrye. 


when  as  hee  came  on  Scottish  ground, 
as  woe  &  wonder  be  them  amonge, 

fiuU  much  was  there  traitorye 

the  wrought  the  Erie  of  Northumberland. 


At  rapper 


they  uk 
Percy 


12 


when  they  were  att  the  supper  sett, 
befibre  many  goodly  gentlemen 

the  ffell  a  fflouting  &  Mocking  both, 
&  said  to  the  Erie  of  Northumberland, 


to  firo  to  a 
Hhfmtiiipr  in 
Scotland. 


'*  what  makes  you  be  soe  sad,  my  Lord, 

&  in  yowr  mind  soe  sorrowffullye  P 
in  the  North  of  Scottland  to-morrow  theres  a  shooting, 
ic  &  thither  thoust  goe,  my  Lor;^  Percye. 

"  the  buttes  are  sett,  &  the  shooting  is  made, 

&  there  is  like  to  be  great  royaltye, 
&  I  am  swome  into  my  bill 
20         thither  to  bring  my  Lord  Pearcy." 


*  "  Tho  interposal  of  tho  witch-lady 
[1.  26,  here]  in  probably  his  [the  northern 
bard's]  own  invention :  yet  even  this 
hath  some  countenance  from  history ;  for 
about  26  years  before,  the  Liidy  Jane 
Douglas,  Lady  Glomis,  sister  of  the  earl 


of  Angus  and  nearly  related  to  Douglas 
of  Ix)ughleven,  had  suffered  death  for  the 
preUnded  crime  of  witchcraft ;  who,  it  is 
presumed,  is  the  lady  alluded  to  in  Terse  " 
[l  01  here].    iWtjuea,  i.  268.— F. 


HOiraUMBBBLAHD  BITBATD  BT  DOWaLAS»  219 


"  Ue  giue  thee  my  Land,'  DoaglaSy"  he  aejes, 

k  be  the  ikith  in  mj  bodje,  with     ^ 

if  /Aat  thoa  wilt  lyde  to  the  worlds  end, 
S4         He  lyde  in  thy  companye." 

&  then  bcspdco  tlie  good  Ladye, —  uwn 

Marry  a  Doaglaa  was  her  name,— 
"  yon  shall  byde  here,  good  English  Lor  ? ;  wwm  Tnej 


38         my  brother  is  a  traiteroos  man ;  kmctertaa 

tnlior 

"  he  is  a  traitor  stoat  A  strongo, 

as  1st*  tell  yon  the  vcretye, 

for  he  hath  tane  lioeranoo  of  the  Erie,*  and  wm  gifv 

33  A  into  England  he  will  linor  thee."  ttesSiiuh. 

"  now  hold  thy  tonnge,  thou  goodlye  Ladye,  Pncj 

&  let  all  this  talking  bee ;  tetnMU 

flbr  all  the  gold  /Aats  in  Long  Lenen,^ 
as         William  wold  not  Linor  mee ! 

**  it  wold  breake  trace  betwoene  England  A  Scottland, 

h  frviuds  apunc  thoy  wold  iieafr  bee 
if  he  bhoKl  liuor  a  bani[0]ht  ^  Krle 
A»i  was  driuen  oat  uf  his  ownc  coaiitr}'e.** 

**  hold  yoMr  touup.*,  my  I/orf/,**  Miee  sayos,  u»ry 

**  the  ft'  is  mai*h  flalHohood  them  amotitri* ; 
wlu'n  }ou  are  deml,  then  they  are  dune, 
44  MM>ne  they  will  |iari  them  fn*indH  agiiinc. 

*'  if  yoa  will  ^ue  me  any  truHt,  my  Lunl,  Mirim 

lie  XvW  you  how  yt)U  lH•^l  may  bee;  ' 

youjtt  lett  my  hmther  ryde  \\\h  wayes, 

4-  A  U'll  thofie  Kiij^linh  liordK  trulye  iw**""** 


*  tuwl.     /iV/iynrj.     K.  of  S-uiUml.  Nui.  24.  157'i.     M.  rul  i. 

•  I  *I.     Sr*  &••••    I.  I'.  •-•",  v.jl.  i.  -  F.  |>.  •-•.'il,  2.*.V  -  F. 

'  }«^  "-if  tbf  i-arlof  jdiiitou:**  Jjintt  *  l^mjli  I^^cd. — 1*. 

Uj^— .  Kmrl  oi  Multijo,  cK«t«d  n-g^ut  *  b*ui>bt.     I*. 


220 


NORTHUMBERLAND  BETRATB    BT  DOWGLAS. 


and  then 
she'll  see 
bimsafe 


into  Lord 

Hume's 

hands. 


"  how  that  you  cannot  w/th  them  ryde 

because  you  are  in  an  He  of  the  sea* ; 
then,  ere  my  Brother  come  againe, 
6*2         to  Edenborrow  castle^  He  carry  thee, 

"  He  liuor  you  vnto  the  Lord  Hume, 

&  you  know  a  trew  Scothe  hord  is  hee, 
for  he  hath  lost  both  Land  &  goods 
56         in  ayding  of  jout  good  bodye." 


Percy  says 
that  no 
friend  shall 
suffer  for 
bima^in, 


his  old  ad- 
herents hare 


suffered 
enough. 


Mary 
Doufflas 
offers  to 
prove  her 
words. 


Percy  will 
have  nothing 
to  do  with 
her  witch- 
craft. 


"  marry  !  I  am  woe  !  woman,"  he  sayes, 
"  that  any  freind  fares  worse  for  mee  ; 
for  where  one  saith  '  it  is  a  true  tale,' 
60         then  2  will  say  it  is  a  Lye. 

"  when  I  was  att  home  in  my  [realme,]' 

amonge  my  tennants  all  trulye, 
in  my  time  of  losse,  wherin  my  need  stoode, 
64  they  came  to  ayd  me  honestlye ; 

"  therfore  I  left  many  a  child  ffatherlese, 

&  many  a  widdow  to  looke  wanne ; 
&  therfore  blame  nothing,  Ladye, 
68         but  the  woeffull  warres  which  I  began." 

"  If  you  will  giue  me  noe  trust,  my  hord, 

nor  noe  credence  you  will  give  mee, 
&  youle  come  hither  to  my  right  hand, 
72         indeed,  my  Lord,*  He  lett  you  see." 

saies,  "  I  neuer  loued  noe  witchcraft, 

nor  neuer  dealt  with  treacherye, 
but  euermore  held  the  hye  way  ; 
76         alas !  that  may  be  soene  by  mee !  " 


[page  2W] 


*  ue.  Lake  of  Lercn,  which  hath  com- 
munication with  the  sea. — Bel.  i.  261. 

*  At  that  time  in  tho  hands  of  the 
opposite  faction. — Rel. 


•  This  line  is  partly  pared  away. — F. 

*  ?  MS.  Lorid,  or  Loiurd  ;  or  Lord, 
with  one  stroke  too  many. — F. 


IIOBTHUlfBBRUL5D  BETRATD  BT  DOWQLAa. 


221 


84 


•» 


*'  if  yoQ  will  not  come  your  selfo,  my  Lon/, 
joale  lett  yottr  chambcrlaine  goe  with  mee, 

3  wordfl  ihat  I  may  to  him  spoake, 
A  woone  he  shall  come  againo  to  thee." 

when  lameii  Swjnard  came  thai  Ladj  before, 
8hee  let  him  see  thorrow  the  weme '  of  her  ring 

how  many  there  waa  of  English  lords 
to  wajte  there  for  his  'iiasier  and  him. 


*4 


»» 


but  who  beene  jondcr,  my  *  g^ood  Ladye, 
thai  walkm  soe  royallye  on  yonder  g^eene  P 
yonder  in  Lon/  HanndcnY'  lamye/'  the  saye ; 
"alas !  hcele  doe  yon  both  tree  ^  A  teeno !  " 


u 


«« 


M 


A  who  boene  yonder,  thon  gay  Ladye, 
thai  walkeii  soe  royallye  him  beside  ?  " 

yond  ifi  Sir  wi7/iam  Dmryc,^  lamy,**  shee 
**A%  kccnc  Captain  hee  is,  and  tryde.'* 


**  how  many  miles  is  itt,  thon  good  Ladye, 
lietwizt  yonil  EngliRh  lionl  and  meo  ?  *' 

*•  marr}',  3*  '»*)  mile,  lamy,"  hIico  sayd, 
**  Jc  i'uen  to  (k-a)e  ^  d  bv  the  Hca  : 


tjd. 


lUry 

riiowttlM 


tlwnimB  MP 
rise  Um  lien 
IB  waltflor 


Limin 

dm* 


■ml  Kir  1 


off. 


frf> 


**  I  nrU'T  waA  on  Kn^liHli  p^nind, 
nor  neu«'i*  mh.*  itt  wi'th  mine  rvi>, 

ImC  iL^i  my  witt  &  w\M'i\omv  Hcnu's, 
and  as    thc*^  iKiuke  it  tt'lleth  iiiit*. 


h»4 


**  my  mother,  nhtn.*  was  a  witch  wtnimii, 
snil  |vi/-t  nf  itt  hhif  li^anif^l  nwv  ; 

fthc«  wold  1ft  nw  mh*  out  of  liOiii^h  Ixmen 
wliat  thev  dvd  in  London  rvtvf.** 


■Kilhrr** 

vttrlimri 

toUtllrr.) 


'    volbr.    th*-    S<»/li«h    wopI     f'lr    X\ir 
' '-?.  1  •■    «<finl<  —I*. 

•  '-.f  in  MS      K 

•  the    I>4d    WaHro     of    tbr     tLi^t 


Minhf*.     AV/.  i.  2rta. 

•  drr.  iln^c.  ti»  ikatrrr.  rotlurr.  -   IV 

•  rt..v.  niur  ..f  llmrick.— Ar/.  i.  Jrtl 

•  Mitl«*.~r. 


222 


NOBTHUHBEBLAND  BETBAYD  BT  DOWaLAS. 


and  8tr  J. 
Forster. 


"  but  who  is  yond,  thou  good  Layde, 

thai  comes  yonder  with  an  Osteme  *  fface  ?  " 
"  yonds  Sir  lohn  fforster,*  lamye,"  shee  sayd  ; 
108        ^'methinkes    thou    sholdest    better    know    him 
then  I." 
"  Euen  soe  I  doe,  my  goodlye  Ladye, 
&  euer  alas,  soe  woe  am  I !  " 


The  cham- 

borlain 

wcepfl, 

and  tells 
Lord  Percy 


that  Mary 


he  pulled  his  hatt  ouer  his  eyes, 
112        &,  lord,  he  wept  soe  tenderlye  ! 
he  is  gone  to  his  Master  againo, 
&  euen  to  tell  him  the  veretye. 

"  Now  hast  thou  beene  with  Marry,  lamy,"  ho  sayd, 
116        "  Euen  as  thy  tounge  will  tell  to  mee; 
but  if  thou  trust  in  any  womans  words, 
thou  must  refraine  good  companye.' 


If 


hAA  flhown 
him  the 
Engli8h 
LordH  wait- 
ing to  take 
hini, 


"  It  is  noe  words,  my  Lord,"  he  sayes, 
120        "  yonder  the  men  shee  letts  me  see, 
how  many  English  Lords  there  is 
is  wayting  there  for  you  &  mee ; 


with  Lord 
HuniKlcn, 


his  greatest 
enemy. 


Percy  says 
that  he's 
been  throe 
years  in  jail, 


"  yonder  I  soe  the  hw^d  Hunsden, 
124        &  hce  &  you  is  of  the  3*!  degree  ; 
a  greater  enemye,  indeed,  my  Lord, 
in  England  none  haue  yee," 

"  <!b  I  haue  beene  in  Lough  Leven 
128        the  most  paH  of  these  yeeres  3 : 
yett  had  I  neuer  noe  out-rake,' 
nor  good  games  thai  I  cold  see ; 


*  Austeme,  austere,  fierce.  L.  austerus. 
Gloss,  ad  G.D.— P. 

*  Warden  of  the  Middle  March.— i?c/. 
i.  264. 

'  rake  raik,  ambulare,  ezpatiari.    As 
IbI.  reika.  Baik  gradus  citatus,  a  long 


raik^  Iter  longom,  to  raik  home,  ac- 
celerato  gradu  domnm  abire;  hiDC  a 
Bake^  homo  diasolutus;  an  out-raik,  a 
Riot,  at  large.  Lye.  See  G-JD.  224.  39. 
—P. 


MOITBUICBEBLAHD  BBTRATD  BT  DOWQLA&  223 

''A  I  am  thns  bidden  to  yonder  shooting  mmUmwhi 

I3i       by  William  Douglaii  all  tralye ;  iiioodiw 


with 


therfore  apcake  ncn^  a  word  oat  of  thy  month 
That  thon  thinkes  will  hinder  mee.^        Wm^ni} 


then  he  writhe  the  gold  ring  of  his  ffingar'  nefitw 

IM       &  ganc  itt  to  thai  Ladye  gay;  riac. 

saycfl,  "  thai  was  a  legacyo  loft  vnto  moo 
in  Harley  woods  where  I  cold  '  bee." 

*'  then  flarewoU  hart,  A  farewell  hand, 
MO       and  ffarwell  all  good  companjro ! 
that  woman  shall  nener  boaro  a  sonne 
shall  know  soe  mnch  of  your  prinitye. 


f» 


**  now  hold  thy  tounge,  Ladye,*'  bee  sayde,  r««9«im 

144       **A  make  not  all  this  dole  for  meo,  tack, 

for  I  may  well  drinko,  but  1st  nen^r  eate, 
till  againo  in  Longh  Lenen  I  bee.*' 

he  tooke  his  boatc  att  the  Longh  Lencn  «nd«fui»to 

U!«        for  to  sayle  now  ou#'r  the  sea,  liS  ^JJUly!' 

&  hp  hath  caHt  vpp  a  silaer  wand, 

9tLU*H  "  faro  thon  well,  my  pood  liailye !  ** 

the  Ijwlye  IodIcchI  onor  her  left  Hholder ;  umry 

1 5i        in  a  dead  Mwoone  there  fell  Hhco.  •wmma. 


**  goc  ha<*ko  a^aine,  Don^laH !  *'  ho  sayd,  ivrcy  Mk« 

**  <fc  I  will  goc  in  thy  companye,  k.  murn* 

for  sudden  tticknnwo  yonder  1  A«ly  has  tanc,  ^  ^^  ^^^ 

I  ^«        and  cner,  alaii,  shoe  will  bat  dye !  *^- 


prprj  aE'.rr*  the  xm»'  ■»-.  Ilr  ni'i-r  »lu»ll  fliitl  hit  |<n>mi*«<  liffht. 

TVf»fni»ni  toTonii  .hoirtlnff  Wiihl.  '  ^ -*^    •rril'tfii^  In   twinl:   p.rf.  miS 

At  to  iht  Uoq^Im  I  hmxv  hiKht :  tvM.^I.-  K. 


224 


NORTH  UMBEBLAND  BETRATD   BT  DOWGLAS. 


"  if  ought  come  to  yonder  Ladye  but  good, 

then  blamed  fore  that  I  shall  bee, 
because  a  banished  man  I  am, 
160        &  driuen  out  of  my  owne  countrye." 


Donglas 
TcfnBM; 


the  ladles  can 
look  after  his 
•Liter. 


"  come  on,  come  on,  my  Lord,"  he  sayes, 

"  &  lett  all  such  talking  bee ; 
theres  Ladyes  enow  in  Lough  Leuen, 
164        &  for  to  cheere  yonder  gay  Ladye." 


Percy  atks 
that  hill 
Chamberlain 
may  go  bock 
with  him. 


"  &  you  will  not  goe  yowr  selfe,  my  lord, 

you  will  lett  my  chamberlaine  goe  with  mee  ; 
wee  shall  now  take  our  boate  againe, 
168        &  soone  wee  shall  ouertake  thee." 


Douglas  says 


iV»  only  hia 

Hi««t<T'8 

trickA. 


(( 


come  on,  come  on,  my  Lord,'*  he  sayes, 
"  &  lett  now  all  this  talking  bee  ! 
ffor  my  sister  is  craftye  enoughe 
172        for  to  beguile  thousands  such  as  you  A  mee." 


Thoy  Bail  50 
miles: 


the  rham- 
1x>rlniti  Q8ks 
how  fnr  It  la 
to  the 
shooting. 

Donf^las 
Rays 


he'll  never 
iiCC  it. 


When  they  had  sayled  *  50  :  myle, 

now  50  mile  vpon  the  sea, 
hee  had  fforgotten  a  message  that  hee 
176        shold  doe  in  lough  Leuen  trulye : 

hee  asked  '  how  ffarr  it  was  to  that  shooting. 

that  williain  Douglas  promised  mee.' 

now  faire  words  makes  fooles  faine*  ; 
180        &  that  may  bo  scene  by  thy  Master  A  thee ; 
ffor  you  may  happen  think  ^  itt  soone  enoughe 
when-euer  you  that  shooting  see." 


*  Tlier«  18  no  navigable  etroam  between 
Louirh-lcvcn  and  the  sea :  but  a  baUad- 
maker  is  not  obliged  to  understand  Geo- 
graphy.—7?e/.  i.  266. 

*  Beiie  promesse  fot  lie:  Prov.  Fair© 
promises  oblige  the  fool ;  or,  are  noe 


better  than  fopperies ;  (for  the  vords/of 
lie  equivocate  vnto  folie.)  Ihuc€9jpr<h 
messes  oUigent  les  fols:  Ppov.  Faire 
promises  oblige  fools ;  or,  (as  our)  faire 
words  make  fools  faine. — ^F. 
'  A  Lancashire  phrase. — ^F. 


NOITUCMBKUIJIKD  BKTRATD  BT   DOWGLAfl.  225 

Immjc  palled  hid  liatt  now  oner  hiH  browo ;  Jamto 

IM        1  wott  tbo  toaren  fell  in  kiB  oyo  ; 
A  bo  is  to  his  'hlctsicr  againe, 
A  flbr  to  tell  liini  the  Toreiye  : 


c« 


he  BSijeSj  fiijre  words  makes  fooles  fieune,  teii*  ivrcy 


ItoofUH't 


IM        &  ihti  may  be  secne  bj  yoa  and  mee, 

flbr  wee  may  happen  thinke  itt  soone  enongho 
when-ener  wee  that  shooting  see.'* 

**  hold  rpp  thy  head,  lamye,"  the  Erie  isyd| 
IM        &  neai*r  lett  thy  hart  faylo  thee ; 

he  did  itt  bat  to  prone  thee  witA,  wMoidy 

^  tiylaffhia 

A  see  how  thow  wold  take  with  death  tralye." 


when  they  had  sayled  other  50  mile,  ahot  im 
I9S        other  50  mile  vpon  the  sea, 

Lord  Peercj  called  to  him,  himselfe,  p^k,  ^te 

A  sayd,  "Douglas    what  wilt    then  doe  with  IfStoii 


dowUkUM. 


"  lookc  //i<it  yoMr  bryille  be  wight,  my  Liord,  r>f«iiffiMtrii« 

20O        /A'lt  yoa  may  |^oe  as  a  shipp  ntt  sea ;  hu  brMie 

Bud  vun 

lookc  thai  yoHT  spurres  bo  briglit  &  Hharpo,  mHijr. 

thai  yoa  may  pricke  her  while  slieele  awayo.** 


(* 


what  needeih  tKii«,  Douelas,**  ho  sayth.  r«rryMki 

-  why  thi« 

104        "  iknt  thou  needetit  to  fHouto  meo  ?  awkcn ' 

for  I  was  counted  a  honMonian  gooil 
before  thai  eutr  I  mett  wi'th  thet*. 


**  A  fialM)  Hector  liath  my  honMU' ;  ^,«^  j«..)  m,  ^^^ 

A  vn*'r  an  euill  diiith  may  hoc*  dye  !  ilT'-tSvn' 

A  willye  Armentrungu  luitli  my  Hpunvtf 
A  all  the  gcerc  (R^longH  to  mec.** 


mrr 


^-^ 


S"r*.4.     ~ 


.1..    .•'         £-. 


— 4-i    - 


tm 


za- 


227 


6ttpt  :  of  :  6ic(bortit : ' 

[Th«  fight  betweoi  bim  and  Robin  Hood.— P.  ] 

Tnt  hdlad  was  printed  from  the  Folio  in  the  BsUques,  and 
firom  the  Rdique$  by  Ritaon,  Child,  and  others. 

^Aa  for  Guy  of  Giabome,''  says  Ritaon,  ^the  only  further 
memorial  which  haa  occurred  concerning  him  ia  in  an  old 
aadrical  piece  by  William  Dunbar,  a  celebrated  Scottish  poet 
of  the  fifteenth  century,  on  one  Schir  Thomas  Kpry  (MS. 
MmitJand,  p.  3,  MMS.  More  (1.  5.  10)  where  he  is  named  along 
with  our  hero,  Adam  Bell,  and  other  worthies,  it  is  conjectured 
of  A  similar  stamp,  but  whose  merits  have  not,  less  fortunately, 
eome  to  the  knowledge  of  posterity. 


Was  iMffir  Weild  RobciiM  under  beivcb, 
Hor  jttt  Roger  of  Clekkinslowcb 

So  baold  a  baint  aa  bo ; 
Gy  of  OUboroe,  na  AUano  IWII, 
Na  Stmonet  Sodm  of  Qutrynaell 

Off  tbocbt  war  nerir  slic. 

Gisbome  is  a  market  town  in  the  west  riding  of  tlie  county 
of  York,  on  the  borders  of  Lancaithire. 


When  shales  beccne  sbecne,  &  shradds*  full  layrc,      uunerrj 
4  k«iie«  bulb  Large  &  longo,  Um  forwi  in 

iU  is  merrry  walking  in  the  fayre  flonvst 
4       to  hcaro  the  small  birds  singe.' 


*  A  rcrj  nmoM  Okl  Hong,  mocb  mon*  ary,  1593.  Iljilliwell.     Skradd  i»  a  tvig. 

iamrt  aad  Drrfrrt  tiiao   tbr  oummoo  ritbcrfit>in  "ibrrd.  tocut  off  tbeamallrr 

|CMU«1  liallada  of  Robta  Hood.— P.  braorbr*  of  a  irM^,**  or  "  m^kraga,  tbt  dip 

'  SJUU,    a     kttdL      IV    ao/M    or  pingn  of  lire  fcncaa."    UaUiwelL— F. 

afWaipr.     HoOybaod's  lArriM*  '  •onge.^P. 


228 


OUYE   OF   GISBORNE. 


Robin  Hood 
droaiiis  that 
two  yeomen      8 


beat  him. 


He  TOWS 
revenge  on 
them,  1 2 


the  wood  wee  te  sang  &  wold  not  ceaso 
amongst  the  leaues  a  lyne ;  ' 


(( 


[■ 

^&  it  is  by  2  3  wight  yeomen, 
by  deare  god  that  I  meane  : 


"  me  thought  they  did  mee  beate  &  binde, 

&  tooke  my  bow  mee  fix)e  : 
K I  bee  Robin  a- Hue  in  this  Lande, 

He  be  wTocken  on  both  them  to  we." 


■] 


and  ordern 
bifl  men  to 
go  with  him. 


They  all 
Btart, 


and  soon  mm 
ouo  yeoman, 


"  sweeuens  ^  are  swift,  Mcw/er,"  qz^th  lohn, 

"  as  the  wind  that  blowes  ore  a  hill ; 
ffor  if  itt  be  neuer  soc  lowde  this  night, 
16         to-morrow  it  may  be  still." 

"  buske  *  yee,  bowne  yoe,  my  merry  men  all  ! 

fibr  lohn  shall  goe  with,  mee  ; 
for  He  goo  seeke  yond  wight  yeomen 
20         in  greenwood  where  th6  bee." 

the  cast  *  on  their  gowne  of  greene ;  ^ 

a  shooting  gone  are  they 
vntill  they  came  to  the  Merry  greenwood 
24  where  they  had  gladdest  bee  ; 

there  were  the  ware  of  [a]  wight  yeoman ; 

his  body  Leaned  to  a  tree, 


*  of  lime:  I  wowld  read '  so  greene.' — P. 

^  As  the  lines  that  follow  are  part  of  a 
Speech  of  Robin  hood  relating  a  dream: 
tliore  are  certainly  some  lines  wanting 
and  we  can  no  where  better  fix  the  hiatus 
than  between  the  2**  &  3^  lines  of  st.  2^ . 
N.B.  In  my  printed  Copy  of  this  song  in 
Me  Reliques,  &c.,  Vol.  I.  I  took  the 
Liberty  to  fill  up  some  of  these  Lacuna, 
&c.,  from  Conjoctupe,  &c. — P. 

Percy  also  alters  lines  6  7  and  8 : 
his  verses  in  the  Ist  edition  are — 

The  woodweote  sang,  and  wold  not  cose, 
Sitting  upon  the  sprayo. 


Soo  lowde,  he  wakend  Bobin  Hood 
In  the  greenwood  where  he  lay. 

Now  by  faye,  said  joU^^e  Bobin, 
A  swcaven  I  had  this  night ; 

I  dreamt  me  of  tow  mighty  yemen 
That  fast  with  me  can  fight.-— F. 

•  of  2.-P. 

*  i.  e.  dreams. — ^P. 

*  i.  e.  get  you  ready. — ^P. 

•  then  inserted  by  Percy. — ^F. 

'  Two  lines  wanting  at  the  boginniog 
of  this  St.,  if  these  2  linea  are  not  nther 
to  be  added  to  the  next  SU — ^P. 


GUn  or  GlfiBORMB. 


229 


A  fword  A  a  dagger  ho  wore  by  his  nde, 
had  beene  manj  a  mans  bane,' 

A  be  was  dadd  in  bis  Capnll '  byde, 
topp,  A  tayle,  and  mayne. 


Qliidfaia 


^  stand  yoQ  still,  Ma#(er,"  quotb  liUe  lobn, 

**  Tnder  tbis  trusty  tree, 
A  I  will  goe  to  yond  wigbt  yeoman 

to  know  bis  meaning  tmlye.** 

**  %,  lobn ! '  by  me  tbon  setts  noe  storei 

A  ikaiM  a  fiarley  *  tbing^ ; 
bow  ofll  send  I  my  men  beffore, 

A  tarry  my-selfe  bebinde  ?  * 


LhtteJdha 
ItlltBobiB 
toitopwIUto 

tte 


BobisHood 
wantlBf  to 

St* 


^  it  is  noe  conning  a  knaoe  to  ken, 
40         A  a  man  bat  beare  bim  speake ; 

A  itt  were  not  for  bursting  of  my  bowe, 
lobn,  I  wold  tby  bead  breake.*' 

bat  often  words  tbey  breeden  ball ;  * 
44  thai  parted  Robin  and  lobn ; 

lobn  is  gone  to  Bamsdale, 

tbe  gates  ^  ho  knowes  echo  one. 

A  when  heo  came  to  Bamcsdalc, 
48  great  hcauincftso  there  hee  hadd  ; 

be  fiband  2  of  his  own  fellowes 
were  slaine  botli  in  a  aladc,* 


MMto 

UtttoJolMi*B 


This 


LltUe  Joha 

■DtMlO 


wbrrpha 


A  Scarlett  a  flboie  flyinge  was 
St  oarr  stockcs  and  stone, 

for  the  slierifle  with  7  score  men 
fast  after  him  is  gone. 


andScwWtt 


tram  tb* 

SiMfftff. 


•  Of  mumj  a  sum  iht  bane.  -  I*. 

•  Hum      K 

•  Ab  •  John- V. 


Ljr.-P. 


*  neaoifig  that  be  nrrvr  did  to. — P. 

•  baJc.-P. 

'  |«M(«,  [Miths,  nding*. — P.  i«  M. 

'  1.  r..  A  piuttng  bHvvcfi  2  Woods.— P. 


230 


OUTE  OF  0I8B0I15E. 


Littin  John 
trios  to  ftlioot 
thti  Sberiir, 


"  yett  one  sliooto  Ho  shoote,"  sayes  LiUe  lohn ; 
56  "  w/th  crist  his  might  &  Majno 

Ho  make  yond  fellow  that  flyes  soe  &st 
to  bo  both  glad  &  fiaine. 


bothlibow 
breaks. 


lohn  bent  vp  a  good  veiwe '  bow,* 
60  &  fictteled  ^  him  to  shoote : 

the  bow  was  made  of  a  tender  bougho, 
&  fell  downe  to  hiB  foofcee.^ 


tp^ 


**  woo  worth  thee,  wicked  wood !  "  sayd  litle  lohi 
64  "  thai  ere  thou  grew  on  a  tree ! 

ITor  ^  tliis  day  thou  art  my  bale, 
my  boo  to  when  thou  shold  bee  !  *' 


and  yet  the 
arrow  killn 


WillUm  n 
Trent, 


this  shoote  it  was  but  looselyo  shott, 
68  the  arrowo  flew  in  vaine, 

&  *  it  mett  one  of  the  Sheriffes  men  : 
good  William  a  Trent  was  slaine. 


(who'd 
better  have 
been  hung). 


it  had  beene  better  ^  for  a  william,  Trent 

to  hange  vpon  a  gallowe 
then  for  to  lye  in  the  greenwoode 

there  slaine  with  an  arrowe.* 


Bat  Little 
John  ifl 
taken. 


&  it  is  sayd,  when  men  be  mett, 
G  ^  can  doe  more  then  3  : 

&  they  haue  tane  *®  litle  lohn, 
&  bound  him  fiast  to  a  tree. 


*  Quoit  MS:  the  word  is  partly  pared 
away. — F. 

*  John  bont  up  a  good  yew  bow. — P. 
'  prepared,   addressed    him,   verbum 

Salopiense. — P. 

*  foote.— P. 

*  ffor  now. — P. 

*  OP  Yet.— P. 

'  as  good. — P. 


•  Altered  in    the   BeUjmi 

i.  81,  to 

To  have  been  abed  trith  to 
Than  to  be  that  day  in  the 
slnde 
To  mcot  with  Uttle  Johiif 

•  Fyve.— iW. 

*•  insert  now. — V, 


OOTK  or  aisBORFx.  231 

''thoB  dttlt  bo  dikwen  by  d&le  tad  downe,"  qMoUi  Mdtiw 


"  A  bmged  bjo  on  a  hill." 
"  bnt  thoQ  ma.j  ffltjk,"  q«oth  litle  lohn.  u?^^ 

-ifittbeobrirtaownowilL"  ^""'* 


lot  TileuiB  tkDdng  of  litle  ^>hn, 
for  heo  b  boand  flwt  to  B  tzoe^ 

A  talks  of  O117  A  Bobin  bood 

in  thej  *  gnea  woods  where  they  bee ; 


a  togedier  they  mott 
Toder  the  leuiM  of  I^ne,* 
to  lee  what  MmrefauidiM  they  nude 
enen  st  tJiat  Mme  time. 

**  good  morrow,  good  6Dow  I "  qwoth  BtV  Qay ;  on  ^m 

"  good  morrow,  good  Bellow !  "  q«u>th  bee ; 
"  mothinkoo  by  thia  bow  thoo  bearae  in  thy  bond, 

k  good  areber  *  thoa  aeems  to  boo.* 

"  I  am  wilfiUl  •  of  my  w«y,"  ({uuHi  Sir  Onyo, 

"&  of  my  momiog  tydc." 
"  lie  te*d  thtv  throngh  the  wood,"  quuth  Robin, 

"  good  flellow,  lie  be  thy  gnido." 

"  I  Mcke  mn  ontUw,"  quoth  Sir  Onyo,  udMk 

I        "  men  tall  him  Robin  Hood  }  ""*'*'i. 

I  had  rather  meet  with  him  Tpon  a  day  ' 
then  40*  of  golde." 


'  n«a>  thna  wotda  tMB  acUtd  bj 

Mi  fSnUiMT.— R  '  (bnldnt  b 

*  A*      K  •  pmbablr  lh«   urn*   u  " 

*  fthap*  Hmk'.  ibn'  LiBForLnr  ii  pwi  U7  [of  MH.I  M.  0.— P. 
■*  «wwa>  IB  (bM>  old  t»lhil».-P.  *  till.  (I.7.-P. 


232 


OUTE   OF   GISBORNE. 


Robin  pro- 
poflcsaome 
iport. 


"  if  you  tow  mett,  itt  wold  be  seene  whether*  were 
better 
104        afore  yee  did  part  awaye  ; 
let  vs  some  other  pastime  find, 
good  fiellow,  I  thee  pray.* 


No  doubt,  as 
they  (fo  on, 
they'll  meet 
Bobin  Hood. 


"  let  VS  some  other  masteryes  make, 
108        <&  wee  wiU  walke  in  the  woods  euen, 

wee  may  chance  ^  mee[t]  with  Robin  Hoode 
att  some  vnsett  stevcn."  ' 


They  make 
I)rickB  ready 
to  shoot  at. 


they  cutt  them  downe  the  *  snmt?ter  shroggB  • 
112        w^ich  grew  both  vnder  a  Bryar,® 
<&  sett  them  3  score  rood  in  twinn^ 
to  shooto  the  prickes  full  neare.* 


"  leade  on,  good  fiellow,"  sayd  Sir  Guye, 
116        "  lead  ®  on,  I  doe  bidd  thee." 

"  nay,  by  my  faith,"  qi^th  Robin  Hood, 
"  the  leader  thou  shaJt  bee." 


'  Percy  alters  this  in  his  lieliqttes,  i. 
81,  Ist  ed.,  to 
Now  come  with  mo,  thou  wighty  yeman, 

And  Robin  thou  soon  shalt  see : 
But  first  let  us  some  pastime  find 

Under  the  groouwood  tree. 

2  to.— P. 

■  See  pagr  358,  fit.  16.— P.  unfixed, 
unexpected  moment.  There  is  a  stroke 
before  the  v  of  8tevt7i  in  the  MS. — F. 

•  two. — liel. 

•  scrofft  a  stunted  shrub:  Jamieson. 
—F. 

•  pronounced  Breer  in  some  parts  of 
Englrt?jd. — P.  Bryar  is  entered  in 
Levin's,  1570,  under  the  words  in  eare. 

'  apart. — F. 

*y-fere. — Bd.  Threescore  roods  or 
330  yards  must  have  been  a  long  range. 
I'he  Pricke-wandes  were,  I  suppose, 
willow  wands  or  long  thin  branches  stuck 
in  the  ground  to  shoot  at.    Prickes  seem 


to  have  been  the   long-iange   targets, 
biUts  the  near. 

Moll.  Out  upon  him,  what  a  suiter 
have  I  got ;  I  am  sorry  you  are  so  bad 

an  Archer,  sir. 

Eare.  Why  Bird,  why  Bird? 

Moll.  Why,  to  shoote  at  Buts,  wheD 
^ou  shou'd  use  prick-ahc^ta^  short^shoot- 
ing  v%|ill  loose  ye  the  game,  I  as[8ure] 
you,  sir. 

Fxirf..  Her  minde  runnes  sure  upon 

a  Fletcher ^  or  a  Bowver^ 

1633,  Eowley.    A  Match  at  Midniffhi, 
Act  ii.  sc  1. 

"  Modem  prick  shootinffis  practised  by 
the  Koyal  Archers  at  Edimiiirgh,  ana, 
is  tlieir  favourite,  at  a  small  round  target 
fixed  at  180  yards,"  says  Mr.  Peter  Muir, 
their  lawmaker.  See  my  note  on  ffritk$ 
in  The  Bahees  Boke  ^.  1868,  p.  d.— F. 

•  i.  €.  begin  to  shoot — ^P. 


OUTB  OF  0I8B0BNI. 


233 


the  first  good  shoot  thai  Robin  Icdd, 
Ifo        did  not  shoote  an  inch  the  pricke  '  ffroe. 
Guj  was  an  archer  good  enougho, 
bat  he  cold  neere  shoote  soe. 


Robliitboota 

ftrat, 

■a  Inch  from 

Uw  prick. 


the  2^  shoote  *  Sir  Guy  shott^ 
134        he  shott  wi'thin  the  garlande  ; 

Imt  Robin  hoodo  shott  it  bettor  then  hee, 
for  he  clone  the  good  pricke  wando. 

**  gods  blessing  on  thy  heart !  **  sajes  Onje, 
itn        **  goode  ffcUow,  thy  shooting  is  goode  ; 
for  on  '  thy  hart  be  as  good  as  thy  hands, 
thou  were  better  then  Robin  Hood. 


CXMCVM41 


Got  next, 

within  Um 

gmiiand. 

Bobintheo 

olcftveathe 

fvick-wand. 


"BtaMyonr 
heut,  yon 
■hootweU," 
Mijt  Ony. 


**  tell  me  thy  name,  good  ffellow,"  quoth  Ony, 
l.nt        **  vnder  the  leanes  of  Lyne." 

*'  nay,  by  my  faith,*'  quoth  good  Robin, 
**  till  thou  haoe  told  me  thine.'* 


•*TellBW 
yoor  name/ 

**Noitai 
yon  tell  me 
jrooxv.** 


'*  I  dwell  by  dale  A  do¥me,"  quoth  Ouye, 
I3S        **  A  I  hane  done  many  a  curst  tame ; 
&,  !»f  that  calles  me  by  my  ri^lit  name, 
ciilleA  me  Guye  of  ^^kI  (lyhU)rue." 

**  my  dwelling  in  in  tho  wchhI/'  sjiycH  Robin  ; 
I40        **  l»y  tlui*  I  iH't  ri^''!it  iiouirlit ; 

niv  name  is  I{4)liin  H<mkI  c»f  Hunu*H<luU', 
a  flellow  tht)u  luii4  lon^  Hou^'^ht." 

he  tk'ii  hoii  neithcT  Imh'Ik*  a*  kitho  nor  kin* 
144         mi^iit  haue  Mi>ne  a  full  fay  re  si^ht, 
to  m.'v  how  totjfther  thesf  vi^omen  went 
wiib  hliuien  U»lh  bn)wne  A  bright  ; 


**  Vine  U 
CJuyr  of 
tiynbume.* 


"  And  mint* 
Robin  lliM-l 

of   llATtHV- 

dalf." 


It  VM  m 

l«>  w*  "ctu 
fi«bt 


*  ••»  D'4  an  Itwh  t!u«  |n«k  - 
»  tkat  it.«rrt**l  l.y  I'.      K 

*  an.  or  aotl       I' 


r 


234 


OUTB   OF  aiSBORNB. 


Neither 
thinks  of 
flying. 


to  hane  seono  how  these  yeomen  together  fotig[ht] 
148        2  howers  of  a  sum^Mers  day : 

itt  was  neither  Guy  nor  Robin  hood 
tJiat  Settled  them  to  flye  away. 


But  Robin 
Btomblos, 


andOny 
bitahim. 


Robin  was  reacheles '  on  a  roote, 
162        &  stumbled  ^  at  that  tyde ; 

&  Guy  was  quicko  &  nimble  with-all, 
&  hitt  him  ore  the  left  side. 


Robin  calls 
on  the 
Virgin, 


"  ah,  deere  Lady !  "  sayd  Robin  hoode, 
156        "  thou  art  both  Mother  &  may  ! 
I  thinke  it  was  neuer  mans  destinye 
to  dye  before  his  day." 


leaps  np, 


kills  Sir 
auy, 


Btioka  his 
head  on  his 
bow, 


Robin  thought  on  otir  Lady  deere, 
160        &  soone  leapt  vp  againe ; 

&  thus  he  came  with  an  awkwarde  ^  stroke ; 
good  Sir  Guy  hee  has  slayne. 

he  tooke  Sir  Guys  head  by  the  hayre, 
164        &  sticked  itt  on  his  bowes  end ; 
"  thou  hast  beene  traytor  all  thy  liffe, 
w//ich  thing  must  haue  an  ende." 


t  lashes  his 
face  till  no 
one  can 
know  him, 


Robin  pulled  forth  an  L*ish  kniffe, 
168        &  nicked  Sir  Guy  in  the  fiaee, 

thut  hee  was  neuer  on  *  a  woman  borne 
cold  tell  who  Sir  Gnye  was  : 


saies,  "  lye  there,  lye  there,  good  Str  Ghiye, 
172        <fc  with  me  be  not  wrothe  ; 

if  thou  haue  had  the  worse  stroakes  at  mj  handf 
thou  shalt  haue  the  better  cloathe." 


'  i.  c.  careless. — P. 
*  he  stumbled. — P. 


■  perhaps  backwaid. — ^P, 
*  of  woman.-^P. 


QDTI  OP   GISBORNE. 


235 


Robin  did  on  *  his  gowne  of  grccno, 
176        [on]  Sir  Gujre  *  hoe  did  it  throwo ; 
A  heo  put  on  thai  Capoll  hjde 
that  cladd  him  topp  '  to  toe. 

"  the  *  bowe,  the  *  arrowoa,  A  litlo  home, 
180        A  *  with  me  now  lie  beare ; 
flbr  now  I  will  goo  to  Bamsdale, 
to  see  how  my  men  doe  ffiEure.*' 

Rf)bin  sett  Onjee  home  to  his  month ; 
IM        a  lowd  blast  in  it  he  did  blow. 

thai  behcazd  the  Sheriffo  of  Nottingham 
as  he  leaned  vnder  a  lowo  *  ; 

'*  hearken !  hearken !  **  sajd  the  Sheriife, 
IMH        '*  I  heard  noe  tjdings  bat  good  ; 

for  jonder  I  hcare  Sir  Qnjes  home  bio  we, 
for  he  hath  slaine  Robin  hoode  : 


Uirowahlft 
own  frera 
ooAtuo  tbe 


potioa  B\w 
uajr't  hono- 
hlde. 


•adtekai 
hlihoni« 


•adblowilt. 


TbeShariff 
It, 


UdakiGoj 
BoMaUootl. 


«4 


for  jonder  I  hearo  Sir  Gnyes  home  blow, 
IM        itt  blowefl  8oe  well  in  tyde, 

fnr  yonder  comes  //*<it  wiphty  yeoman 
rladd  in  hin  capoll  hydt*. 

**  (H»me  hither,^  thou  fC^Kxl  S/r  Guy  ! 
I'M         nskv  of  mce  what  thou  wilt  linue  !  " 

**  Ilf  none  of  thy  p»ld/'  «iyc*H  lU)bin  hood, 
nor  lie  none  of  itt  haue  **  ; 

"  but  now  I  haue  slaine  the  M'M/tr/'  he  Miyd,   Iv 
»««i         let  me  p>e  strike  the  knaue  ; 
thiM  in  Sill  the  n-wanl  1  aiike, 
nor  n<ie  other  will  1  haue.'* 


m) 


him  iKhat- 
Uobin  «»k.« 


iMrv  to  km 
Uttk  John. 


»  On  S.r  Cfuy— P. 
•    |<rrLA(«  biiwr    -  I* 


hill,  A.-S.  A/tf«r. 


-K. 

o«»m»'  hither  [rrp<»ted). — IV 
•  IVrha|t«« 

NoiH*  of  it  I  will  hiir»» 

or 
Nor  iKithing  cIm*  III  hare.  - 1* 


236 


GUTE   OF   0IS60RNE. 


TheSheriif 
grants  it. 


"  thon  art  a  Madman,"  said  the  sbirifie, 
204        "  thou  sholdest  hane  had  a  knights  fiee. 
seeing  thy  asking  beene  ^  soe  badd, 
well  granted  it  shall  be." 


Little  John 

knows 

Robin's 

voice, 

and  thinks 

he  shall  be 

freed. 


but  litle  lohn  heard  his  Master  speake, 
208       well  he  knew  tJiat  was  his  steuen  ' ; 
"  now  shall  I  be  loset, '"  qwoth  litle  lohn, 
"  with  Christs  might  in  heauen.*' 


but  Robin  hee  hyed  him  towards  Idtle  lohn ; 
212       hee  thought  hee  wold  loose  him  beliue. 


MdKSi  the  Sheriffe  &  all  his  companye 

press  on 
them. 


fast  afler  him  did  driue. 


Robin  orders 
them  back, 


"  stand  abacke !  stand  abacko  !  "  sayd  Robin ; 
216        "  why  draw  you  meo  soe  neere  ? 
itt  was  neuer  the  vso  in  our  countrye 
ones  shrifb^  another  shold  heere." 


looses  Little 
John,  and 
gives  him 
Guy's  bow. 


but  Robin  puUcd  forth  an  Irysh  kniffee, 
220        &  loscd  lohn  hand  &  ffoote, 

&  gauc  him  Sir  Guyes  bow  in  his  hand, 
&  bade  it  be  his  boote. 


Littie  John 
prepares  to 
shoot. 


*  but  lohn  tooke  Guyes  bow  in  his  hand, 
224        his  arrowes  were  rawstye  by  the  roote ; 
the  Shcrrifie  saw  litle  lohn  draw  a  bow 
&  Settle  him  to  shoote ; 


*  hath  been. — P. 

*  i.  e.  voice. — P. 
■  loosed. — P. 

*  i.  e.  confession. — P. 

*  Then  John  he  took  Guyes  bowe  in  his 

hand, 


His  boltes  and  anowM  eelie  obp: 
When  the  sheriffo  saw  littlA  Jcka  bffi 
his  bow. 
He  fettled  him  to  be  gone.— JUL 
?  is  rawBtye^  L  224,  nutjr.    JMF' 
rude;  unskilfid.     HaUiwelL-— F. 


OUTB  OF  0I8B0BMX.  237 

towards  his  honw  in  Notdngam 

he  ffled  fiill  fast  away, — 
A  Boe  did  all  his  oompanje, 

not  one  behind  did  stay, — 

bat  he  cold  neither  aoe  had  goe,  bA9m*%§&i 

nor  away  aoe  fast  mnn,^  SSL  j«iui*i 

bot  litle  lohn  with  an  arrow  broade 
did  cleane  his  heart  in  twinn.' 

fBng. 

'  rTd*.— M.  put  roiir  iiimt«d  ceanaai  too»  at  if 

*  He    ibott  him  into  the    'Ucke'-      ycm'd only  altcfedtlM  oat  w«d 'ba^*.' 
tjd§.^Rd,    Too  btO,  Bbbop!  And  to      •F. 


238 


This  ballad  is  to  be  found  in  Dryden's  Miscellany  Poenis,  in  the 
1727  CoUectioii  of  Old  BallculSj  and  elsewhere. 

The  subject  is  the  well-known  quarrel  between  the  Earls  of 
Hereford  and  Norfolk,^  which  finally  resulted  in  their  banish- 
ment in  1398.  A  full  description  of  the  Lists  of  Coventry  (in 
September,  not  August)  is  given  by  Hall.*  The  ballad's  account 
of  the  origin  of  the  quarrel  is  not  quite  fair.  Hereford  accused 
Norfolk,  not  Norfolk  Hereford,  of  treason.  But  the  ballad  goes 
with  the  winning  side.  Vox  populi  mostly  shouts  in  favour  of 
the  successful.     The  cause  pleases  it  that  ^^  pleases  the  gods,** 

The  ballad  is  evidently  written  by  a  practised  ballad-writer, 
some  time  about  1600  probably.  But  it  may  have  been  founded 
on  some  older  one.  The  subject  is  not  likely  to  have  lain 
imcclebrated  till  late  in  Elizabeth's  reign. 


I  ping  the 
fall  of  two 
noblo  Dukot, 


lOWE  noble  dnkcs  of  great  renowne 
thut  long  had  lined  in  fiamc, 

throng  fiatall  envyo  were  cast  downe 
&  brought  to  sudden  bane : 


Hereford 


8 


tlio  Dake  of  Hereford  was  the  one, 

a  prudent  prince  &  wise, 
gainst  whom  such  mallicc  there  was  showeni 

which  soone  in  fight  did  rise. 


*  In  iho  print<Ki  CoUoction  of  old 
Ballads,  1727,  Vol.  i.  p.  120.  N.  XV., 
Hud  iu  Dryden's  Misc.  Vol  6.  382.— P. 

«  Sop  Sliakspere  s  Richard  II.— F. 

'  Hull's  doscriptions  of  armour  and 


fHshionH  before  his  time  were  his  ovo 
fabrication,  though  adopted  tm  guu^e 
by  Gough  and  Sharon  Toner,  rkmck^t 
Hist,  qf  Costume,  p.  223.— F. 


HKBSrrORD  AUD   NORFOLK£« 


239 


IS 


the  Dakc  of  Norfolko  most  vntmc  * 

declared  to  the  King, 
"  the  duke  of  Hereford  gixAtlj  grew 

in  hatred  of  eche  thinge 


awlKotfolk. 

Narff6tkd»- 

nooDow 

BcnCoftI 


16 


wAich  bj  hifl  grace  was  acted  still 
against  both  hyo  A  lowe, 

A  how  he  had  a  traiteroas  will 
his  state  to  ouerthrowe.** 


toUwKlBff 


MAtnitor. 


SO 


the  Duke  of  Hereford  then  in  hast 
was  sent  for  to  the  Kinge, 

A  by  his  lords  in  order  placet 
exaniined  in  eche  thinge  ; 


TIm  Kliif 
asodifor 

bMhim 


S4 


wAich  being  guiltelesse  of  ihat  crime 
wAtch  was  against  him  layd, 

the  doke  of  Norfolke  at  that  time  * 
these  words  ynto  him  sayd : 


•DdlMto 

Norfolk 


"  how  canst  thou  with  a  shamclcsse  face 

deny  a  tmth  soc  stoat, 
A  there  before  his  royall  grace 
2S         8oe  falselye  &ced  itt  out  ? 

**  did  not  these  treamMis  from  thee  pansc 

when  wee  together  were, 
how  thai  the  Ki*m</  vnworthye  wo« 
52         the  royall  crowne  to  wearc  ? 


rcfvoTMhin 


tWcUrr* 
llrrrlunl  U.m 


.% 


*'  wherfore,  my  graoyous  Ixm/n/'  <jN*»tli  hec, 

*•  A  you,  his  Noble  Peerew, 
to  whom  I  wiiih  long  liffe  to  Ixv, 

With  many  happy  yecren. 


'  Only  half  the  u  m  the  M8.— F 


US,  tinc^F 


240 

and  avows 


he  i«a 
traitor. 


40 


HEREFFORD   AND   NORFOLKEw* 

"  I  doo  pronounce  before  you  all 
the  duke  of  Hereford  here, 

a  traytour  to  our  Noble  Kinge, 
as  time  shall  show  itt  clere." 


Hereford 


harls  back 
hisaocQsa- 
tion  in  his 
face, 


and  craves 
leave  to  fight 
Norfolk. 


the  Duke  of  Herefford  hearing  thutj 

in  mind  was  greeved  much, 
&  did  retume  this  answer  fflatt, 
44         w^tch  did  Duke  Norfolke  tuche  ; 

"  the  terme  of  Traytor,  trothelesse  Duke, 

in  scome  &  deepe  disdaine, 
wtth  flflatt  defiyance  to  thy  face  * 
48        I  doe  retume  againe  ! 

"  &  therfore,  if  it  please  your  grace 

to  grant  me  grace,"  qt*oth  hee, 
"  to  combatt  wtth  my  knowen  ffoe 
62        tJuit  hath  accused  mee, 


The  King 
grants  it, 
and  fixes 
Coventry  as 
the  place. 


The  Dukes 

appear 

armed, 


"  I  doe  not  doubt  but  plainlye  proue, 

tJuit  like  a  periured  knight 
hee  hath  most  falslye  sought  my  ahame 
56        against  all  truth  &  right." 

the  King  did  grant  their  iust  request, 

&  did  therto  agree, 
att  Couentry  in  August  next 
60        this  combatt  fought  shold  bee. 

the  Dukes  in  barbed  steeds  ftill  stout, 

in  coates  of  Steele  most  bright, 
with  spcares  in  brest  did  enter  list^ 
64        the  combatt  feirce  to  fi&ght 


*  There  is  a  stroke  between  the  c  and  e  in  the  MS. — ^F. 


HUsrrosD  ino  NOBrouu, 

tlu  Kim;  then  cast  hu  wwder  downe, 

oomManding  them  to  hUj  ; 
A  with  hia  Lords  loine  cottuoell  tooks 
U        to  ituit  lluti  Uortell  fihtje. 

att  lenght  vnto  the  Noble  Dake[B] 

tlia  King  ot  Heralds  cune, 
&  nto  tbem  with  loft^e  speech 
Ts        this  sentence  did  proclume : 

"with  Henery  BaUenbrooke  this  day, 

the  Doke  of  Hereford  here, 
ft  Thomat  Uswbmy,  Norfolkes  Dnke, 
7*        see  imljKnt  did  Kpe«re, 

"  ft  bane  in  hoiioitrabl«  sorto 

rapAjred  to  this  place. 
onr  noble  Kim;  for  spec7«U  cause 
•n        hath  altered  thns  the  case : 

"  Knt,  Henery  Duke  of  Hereford, 

Era  15  dajea  were  past 
•hall  part  this  realme,  on  pajme  of  death, 
M         while  10  yixrve  space  duth  last. 

"  ft  Thomat,  dnkc  of  Norfoike,  thou 

Ikat  hast  bc^un  thin  Rlnfltr, — 
ft  thcrfore  noc  good  proue  can  bring, 
■•         I  taj, — fur  t«nne  oflifle, 

"  by  judgment  of  onr  eoafrraine  Lori/ 

wtich  now  in  place  doth  stand, 
for  enmanre  I  banish  th(-e 
t3         out  off  thy  Nstiuc  I^nd, 

"  charging  thee  on  payne  of  death, 

wlivn  l■^  daycs  are  past, 
thon  nen^r  treade  on  English  ground 
M         soe  long  as  liffe  doth  last." 


242 

Each  swears 


not  to  go 
where  the 
other  is. 


HERBFFOBD  AND  NORFOLKE. 

thns  were  ih&  swome  before  the  Kxng 

ere  they  did  further  passe, 
the  one  shold  nener  come  in  place 
100       wlieras  the  other  was. 


Norfolk, 

before 

aalUngoff, 


laments  his 
lot. 


then  both  the  dnkes  wtth  heainy  hart 

were  parted  presentlye, 
the  vncoth  streames  of  froward  chance 
104       in  forraine  lands  to  tiye. 

the  dnke  of  Norfolke  cominge  then 
where  [he]  shold  shipping  take, 
the  bitter  teares  fell  from  his  cheekes, 
108       &  thns  his  moane  did  make : 


[pi««: 


"May  grief 
burst  my 
heartl 


*'  now  let  me  sob  &  sigh  my  fill 

ere  I  from  hence  depart, . 
that  inward  panges  wtth  speed  may  burst 
112       my  sore  afficted  hart ! 


I  bid  adien 
to  my  loved 
land. 


Would  I  were 
dead, that  I 
might  be 
buried  here, 


^*  accun^d  man,  whose  lothed  liffe 

is  held  soe  much  in  scome, 
whose  companye  ^  is  cleane  despised, 
116        &  lefl  as  one  forlome, 

''  Now  take  thy  leaue  &  last  adew 

of  thi.  %  L.^  ^ 

which  neuer  more  thou  must  behold, 
l20       nor  yett  approache  itt  neere  ! 

"  how  happy  shold  I  count  my  selfe, 

if  death  my  hart  had  tome, 
that  I  might  haue  my  bones  entombed 
124       where  I  was  bredd  and  borne ; 


'  In  the  MS.  there  is  only  one  stroke  for  the  n. — ^F. 


HBEirrORD  AKD  MORFOLKB. 


243 


«. 


or  thai  by  Ncptunes  rathfuU  rage, 
I  might  bo  prest  to  dye, 
while  thai  gweet  Englands  pleasant  bankes 
Its       did  stand  before  mine  eje. 


orUtttI 
mlfbtdto 
now  I 


**  how  aweete  a  sent  hath  Englands  gpround 

within  my  sences  now  ! 
how  fajre  vnto  my  outward  sight 
13S       seemes  enery  branch  A  bo  we ! 


How 
mMllsBnc- 
lands 
froandl 


^  the  ffeeledfl,  the  flowers,  the  trees  &  stones, 

seemo  snch  vnto  my  minde, 
thai  in  all  other  coontreys  sore, 
136       the  like  I  shall  not  ffinde. 


Tbctvanao 
waA  flddt 


**  oh  thai  the  snn  *  his  shining  &ce 
wold  stay  his  steeds  by  strenght ! 
thai  this  same  day  might  streched  bee 
1 10        to  20  yeeres  of  lenght ; 


Oh  that  this 
nifhioould 


iMttwcn^ 


•*  Sl  thai  they  true  performed  tyde 

their  liasty  courso  wold  stay, 
th'ti  AaAwh  wold  nenrr  yeeld 
144        to  lirin^  nie  hence  away  ! 


**  thai  bv  the  fountaine  of  mine  eve« 

the  ffeldes  mi^ht  waltered  Ix^e, 
thnt  I  mi^ht  grauc  my  jn^»cvouii  plaints 
14%         vjKin  eche  springing  tree  ! 


and  that  I 
coald  grmr^ 
mj  plaints 
on  tbrtrecat 


'Mint  time,  I  see,  w/th  K^le«  wings, 

I  sec,  dotli  fl(*e  away, 
Sl  dojity  clomls  U'gin  to  dinini 
Ml        the  bnghtnei»Me  of  the  day  ; 


Bat 


'  MS.  or  tAat  the  shuuing.  — F. 


Mi 


244 


UEUEFFORD  AND  NOBFOL&E. 


"  the  fiatall  bower  draweth  on, 

the  winds  &  tydes  agree  ; 
&  now,  sweet  England,  oner  soone 
156        I  must  depart  from  thee  ! 


the  eailora 
call  me. 


Farewell, 
sweet  Eng- 
land, 


Ikiflsthy 

BOU 


to  show  how 
I  loved 
thee." 


"  the  Mariners  haue  hoysed  sayle, 

<&  call  to  catch  me  in, 
<&  in  [my]  woefdll  hart  doe  '  feele 
160        my  torments  to  begin. 

**  wherfore,  farwell  for  enermore. 

Sweet  England,  vnto  thee ! 
&  farewell  all  my  freinds  wAicb  I 
164        againe  shall  neuer  see ! 

*'  &  England,  heere  I  kisse  the  ground 

vpon  my  bended  knee, 
herby  to  shew  to  all  they  world 
168        how  deere  I  loued  thee." 


Hereford 
goes, 


and  dies  in 
Venice. 


this  being  ^  sayd,  away  he  went 
As  fortune  did  him  guide ; 
*      and  att  the  lenght,  with  greefe  of  hart, 
172        in  Venis  ^  there  he  dyed. 


[page2( 


Norfolk 

lives  in 
France, 

is  promoted, 


the  other  duke  in  doleMl  sort 
did  lead  his  lifie  in  firance, 
&  at  the  last  the  mightye  Liord 
176        did  him  ffull  hiye  advance. 


recalled  to 
England 


while 

Richard  II. 
wars  in 
Ireland, 


'  I.— F. 


the  Lords  of  Eng||uid  afterwards 

did  send  for  him  againe, 
while  that  King  Richard  *  in  the  warres 
180        in  Ireland  did  remaine  ; 


^  A  d€  follows  in    the  MS.,  but    is 
crossed  out. — F. 


»  or  Veins,  MS.— F. 

*  The  d  has  a  curl  like  0  to  it.--F. 


natBrroBD  ud  rouolo. 

iriiothio'  the  Tile  uid  giwt  ibnM 
wkioh  Ummgh  his  deeds  did  Bpringa^ 

dapoMd  mM,  A  then  the  dote 
WM  tnilj  orowed  Kinge. 

ffiOB. 


L  tka.  "Tha  Til*  ud  gmt 
b  dMk  M  ia  tlM  cttnww  in- 
MallitnmtiM  bob  «■  th*  Unio- 
rf  KAui  iL,  aditod  W  Hr. 
>  Wrifis  fcr  tlM  Oaadra  Socut  7 
I  boM  Um  0»bridp  MB.  U 

,  p^  *. »: 

RiekidtlM  ndalM,  wntli  on 
im1£ 
i-^MM  Mdjs  lom    lyf  mad 

■n  lb*  «7lM  Md  wiang*  aad 

<  IjgWidi  T-lfirt*  fta«  ttat  |M 


=i=*r 


And  MTntias  hMk  Wliid  }>«•  ■ 


other  tw^n* 
WhntiT  it  Muditk  ud 
B7  dnda,ar  b«<ljatii^«rdi 
Or  bj  ci«MnM«f  tajm  1 

Bf  plljBK*  of  }B«n  p«(la 

topbw. 
Or  tlttt  }on*  wrlla  VH*  « 

Or  ba  Ulli^  «f  lOOMtow 


»  ■)>  UkidMiidHWM  tta 


Orb*  d«tt*  I 

flWut, 
Or  ba  lading*  of  kw*  vhh  li 


246 


This  ballad  is  given  in  the  Ediquea  "  (with  corrections  •)  from 
the  Editor's  ancient  folio  MS.  collated  with  two  printed  copies 
in  black  letter :  one  in  the  British  Museum^  the  other  in  the 
Pepys  Collection.  Its  old  title  is  '  A  lamentable  ballad  of  the 
Lady's  fall,'  to  the  tune  of  '  In  Peascod  Time/  "  (to  which  air 
''Chevy  Chace,"  as  Mr.  Chappell  informs  us,  was  sometimes  song). 
There  is  also  a  copy  of  it  in  the  Douce  Collection.  It  appears  in 
the  1727  Collection  of  Old  Ballads,  and  many  later  Collections. 

It  is  evidently  of  very  much  the  same  date  as  The  ChildTren  in 
the  Wood  (which  is  certainly  as  old  as  1595,  as  its  name  is 
entered  in  the  Stationers'  Begisters  of  that  year),  and  may 
possibly  be  by  the  same  author.  The  same  facility  of  language 
and  of  rhime,  the  same  power  of  pathos,  the  same  extreme 
simplicity  characterise  both  ballads. 

The  story  is  who  can  say  how  old  ?  Who  was  the  first  fmil 
woman?  who  the  first  false  man?  It  touchingly  illustrates 
Goldsmith's  pathetic  lines : 

When  lovely  woman  stoops  to  foUj 

And  finds  too  late  that  men  betray, 
What  charm  can  soothe  her  melancholy? 

What  art  can  wash  her  guilt  away  ? 

The  only  art  her  gruilt  to  cover, 

To  hide  her  shame  from  every  eye, 
To  give  repentance  to  her  lover 

And  wring  his  bosom,  is — to  die. 

The  poor  weak  betrayed  lady  had  looked  in   vain  for  the 

fulfilment  of  her  lover's  promises  : 


>  In  y  printe<l  CoUect/on  of  Old  BaUads,  1727,  Vol.  i.  p.  244.  N.  xxiiT.— P. 
•  Notic<^  in  the  4th  edition  only. — F. 


LADnS  FAIL.  247 

If  ABj  poMD  riMhadipied 

Com*  riding  o'er  the  plAin, 
Bht  thought  it  WIS  her  own  tme  lofe ; 

But  nil  her  hopen  wtn  Tnin« 

She  giYct  birth  to  a  child. 

And  with  oon  tigfa  which  fankn  her  henii 
This  g^|]|tt"t-  dnmo  did  die. 

Then,  at  laat,  repentance  ia  given  to  her  lover,  and  his  bosom  is 
iming.  He  kills  himselfl  And  so  the  ballad  ends  with  a  word 
of  admonition  and  warning  to  **  dainty  damsels  alL** 


well  my  heany  dolefull  tde,  Stor^'*' 

yon  loyall  loners  all,  MnteU: 

A  heedfidly  bears  in  yotcr  brest 

4  a  gallant  Lsdyes  fiUl. 

long  was  shee  wooed  ere  sbee  was  woone 

to  lesd  a  wedded  liffe, 
bat  folly  ronght  her  oamihrowe 

5  before  shee  was  a  wiffe ; 

to  soone,  alas !  she  gane  consent,  bat 

A  yceledcd  to  his  will,  eooa. 

tho  he  pivitesicd  to  bo  tme 
IS         A  fiuthfnll  to  her  ntill. 

shee  felt  her  body  altered  quite,  jiwrtbam 

her  bright  hae  waxed  pale,  ctanfwi, 

her  fatru  red  checkes  cliangcd  color  quite, ^ 
U  her  strenght  began  to  fkyle. 

&  noe  *  With  many  a  sorrowffull  nighe, 

thin  bewtiona  Ladye  Mildo 
with  greened  hart  p^rceiued  her  selfo  JliLfik*. 

to         to  be '  conceined  with  chjld.  SST^^ 


*  U'T   I'jTrlr*'  cherf-hfl  rhani^'d    culor  '  IVir  that. — M, 

vL:*«'    -  irW.  1^  nl.  (otilj  parilj  colUtnL  •  hnfc^JM 

— K  / 


248 


IJLDTE8   FALL. 


She  hid  it 
from  her 
parents. 


24 


Bhee  kept  it  from  her  parents  sight 
as  close  as  close  might  bee, 

&  see  put  on  her  silken  gowne 
none  shold  her  swelling  see. 


bat  told  her 
lover. 


88 


vnto  her  loner  secretly 

her  greefe  shee  did  bewray, 

&  walking  with  him,  hand  in  hand, 
these  words  to  him  did  say  : 


82 


"  behold,*'  quoth  shee,  "  a  Ladyes  distresae 
by  lone  bronght  to  yotir  bowe  ; 

see  how  I  goe  with  chyld  with  thee, 
tho  none  thereof  doth  knowe ! 


prayed  him 
not  to  let 
her  babe  be 
abaataxd. 


36 


"  my  litle  babe  springs  in  my  wombe 
to  heare  it '  Others  voyce  ; 

o  lett  itt  not  be  a  bastard  called, 
sith  I  make  thee  my  choyce !  * 


to  remember 
his  promisee, 


40 


"  thinke  on  thy  former  promises, 
thy  words  &  vowes  eche  one ! 

remember  with  what  bitter  teares 
to  mee  thon  madest  thy  Moane  ! 


and  marry 

her 

or  kill  her. 


44 


"  convay  me  to  some  secrett  place, 
&  marry  me  with  speede, 

or  with  thy  rapyer  end  my  liffe, 
lest  further  shame  proceede  !  " 


Her  lover 
makes  ex- 
ooies  : 


48 


"  alacke,  my  derest  lone  !  "  qwoth  hee, 
"  my  greatest  loy  on  earthe ! 

w^ich  way  shold  I  conuay  you  hence 
to  scape  ^  a  sudden  death  ? 


*  It  preceded  its  as  the  gen.  neuter  of 


'  Bd.  inserts  four  lines  her«. — F. 
"  without. — Bel. 


LADT£8   FAU«  249 

*'  jour  freindfl  are  all  of  hje  deg^ree,  bow  omi  h» 

A  I  of  meane  estate ;  fm  h«r 

ttvJl  hard  itt  is  to  gett  you  forthe  [ph«  Mt] 

5S         out  of  joiir  ffathers  gate.** 

"  dread  not  your  liffe  to  sane  your  fame  !  She  Mys 

for  if  you  taken  bee, 
my  lelfe  will  step  betweene  the  sword  tht  win  mr* 

him  from 

6C  to  take  the  harme  of  theo ;  bwm. 

**  soe  may  you  >  scape  dishonor  quite. 

if  soe  yon  *  shold  be  slaine, 
what  cold  they  say,  bat  that  true  lone 
io         had  wrooght  a  Ladyes  paine  '  ? 

^  but  feare  not  any  farther  harme ;  ud  win 

my  selfe  wiU  soe  dense, 
I  will  safelye  ryd  ^  with  thee 
c  mknowen  of  Morttall  Eyes. 

disguised  like  some  pretty  page  <iiar«i»d  •■ 

He  meete  thcc  in  the  darke, 
&  all  alone  lie  come  to  th(H; 
es  hard  by  my  ffathorH  jxirke." 

**  &  thero,"  (iwth  hee,  **  He  meotc  my  deere —     H»Mnrw«  to 
if  g<Kl  d<)0  lend  me  liffl* —  ib^cUy 

*^  month. 

on  thii«  day  month  without  all  fiiyle ; 
Tl  lie  make  thee  then  my  wiffe." 

A  with  a  Bweet  &  louinjf  kinso  Thry  k\m 

maA  pAit. 

they  pirtod  pr**iwntlye, 
A  att  their  |Hirtinge  brininh^  toareH 
76         HtfKNlo  in  eche  othem  eye. 


•  >  I      F     awl  if  I.     /^/.  '  ?'M.S. ;  p^rlui«  it  i«  Umisk.-^V. 

'  Um  -  F  and  H*f 


250 


LADTES  FALL. 


On  the  day 

fixed 

the  lady  ia 

ready, 


tmt  her  lorer 
never  oomee. 


She  weeps. 


reproaches 
her  false 
lover, 


att  lenght  the  wished  day  was  come 

wherin  *  this  louely  Majd 
wtth  longing  eyes  &  strange  attire 
80         for  her  true  louer  *  stayd. 

if  any  person  shee  had  spyed  ' 
came  ryding  ore  the  plaine, 
shee  thought  ^  itt  was  her  owne  true  loue ; 
84         but  all  her  hopes  was  yaine ! 

then  did  shee  weepe,  &  soer  bewayle 

her  most  ynhappy  fate  ; 
then  did  shee  speake  these  wofull  words 
88         when  succourles  shee  sate : 

''  0  ffalse,  fibrswome,  fiaithelesse  man ! 

disloyall  in  thy  loue  ! 
hast  thou  fibrgott  thy  promise  past, 
93  &  wilt  thou  pcriured  prooue  P 

'^  &  hast  thou  now  fforsaken  mee 

in  this  my  greate  distresse, 

to  end  my  dayes  in  heauinesse  * 

96         wh/ch  well  thou  might  ^  redresse  P 


and  wishes 
she  had 
never 
trusted  him. 


Orieving.she 
goes  home. 


"  woe  worth  ^  the  time  I  did  beleeue  • 

that  fflattering  toung  of  thine ! 
wold  god  thai  I  had  neuer  scene 
100        the  teares  of  thy  false  eyen  !  " 

soe  thai  with  many  a  grieuous  groane  * 

homewards  shee  went  amaine. 
noe  rest  came  in  her  waterye  eyes, 
104        shee  found  *®  such  priuy  payne. 


"  On  which.— Bel, 

«  ?  MS.  loyes.— F. 

■  When  any  person  she  espjecL — Bel. 

•  hoped. — Ba, 

•  open  shame. — Bel. 

•  thoa  mightst  well. — Bel. 


'  be  to ;  A.-S.  tDeortkan,  to  beeoma^  be 
— F. 

•  I  e'er  belieVd.— i?rf. 

*  sorrowful  sigh.— i?e^ 
'•  felt.— ^«/. 


LADTE8   FALL.  25 1 

in  truiell  ttrong  shoe  fell  that  night  intakwwith 

with  many  a  bitter  thraw ' : — 


what  woefoll  paines  shee  felt  thai  night ' 
loe        doth  eche  good  woman  knowe ! — 

«hee  called  rp  her  waiting  mayds  auu  np  hrr 

who  lay  att  her  bedda  fecte,* 
and  mniing  at  her  groat  ^  woo 
lis       began  fall  fast  to  wecpe. 

*'  weepe  nott,**  shee  sayth,  "  bnt  ahntt  the  dorea         bytha 
A  windowes  all  abont ; 


let  none  bewray  my  wretched  state, 
lis        bat  kcepe  all  persons  oat !  *'  vSTiiSf 


"  0  Mistras !  call  your  mother  here ;  __       _ 

of  women  yon  haao  noode  ;  **■*  ^*  ^ 

A  to  some  skilftiU  midwifle  helpe 
ISO       the  better  may  yoa  speed.'* 


vtla. 


**  call  not  my  mother  for  thy  liffe,  sim 

nor  fieitch  noe  woman  here  ! 
The  midwifft*!!  liolpe  comes  all  to  late ;  Cphv  tro] 

IS4        my  death  I  d<>c  not  feare.*' 

With  thai  the  balx*  sprang  from  her  wombe,  ffTMUrth 

.  .  toft  tMbtf« 

niie  creature  bein^  by, 
A  With  one  Ni^he  which  lirukc  her  hart 
134        thiM  gallant  dame  did  dye.  MidUh^ 

the  litle  lonely  infant  yoan^*, 

the  pn*tty  Hmtlin^  lial»e,* 
refiigned  itt  new  nxviued  berath  H^  i,.!^ 

1.12        to  him  thill  had  it  maile. 


dkatoo. 


»  \}.r*tw^  — /if*/.  •  Who  mavini;  at  her  mittrr**. — iW. 

•  •.'..!!  'Ill  f.^1. —  //#/.  •  n>f..— //#/. 

*  A  rurt  At  tUm  rod  like  Aiitithrr  ^.  -K.  *  Thf  mothrr  being  ilead. — Rti. 


252 


LADTES  FALL. 


Her  lorer 
comes,  and 

klUs  himself. 


next  morning  came  Ler  owne  true  lone 

afifrighted  with  this  newes, 
&  he  for  sorrow  slew  himselfe, 
136        whom  eche  one  did  accuse. 


Mother  and 
babe  are 
bnHed 
together. 


the  Mother  with  her  new  borne  babe 

were  laide  both  in  one  graue ; 
their  parents,  ouerworne  *  with  woe, 
uo        noe  loy  tJuit  they  *  cold  haue. 


Damielsl 
ware  flat- 
tering 
words! 


144 


take  [heed]  you  dayntye  damsells  all ; 

of  fflattering  words  beware ; 
&  to  the  honor  of  your  name 

haue  you  a  specyall  care.' 


ffins. 


*  overcome. — Bel, 

*  jov  thenceforth. — Sd, 

*  The  Beliques  Add: 


Too  true,  alas !  this  story  is, 
As  many  one  can  toll. 

By  others  harmes  learne  to  be 
And  you  shall  do  Ml  welL 


rise. 


•253 


Suritingatn  bttrapli  :  (p  2an(s(trr*^ 

• 

I?c  the  late  autumn  of  1483,  the  nobles  who  had  previously 
determined  to  put  an  end  to  the  usurpation  of  Bichard  the 
Third,  and  who  had  lately  beard  of  the  murder  of  the  young 
PrinoM,  fixod  OD  Henry  of  Richmond  for  their  king.  About  the 
middle  of  October  the  Marquess  of  Dorset  proclaimed  him  at 
Exeter.  3Ien  declared  for  him  in  Wiltshire^  in  Kent,  in 
Berkshire.  The  Duke  of  Buckingham  made  a  rising  at  Brecon. 
But  the  conspiracy  failed.  Bichard  was  on  the  alert;  Henry 
could  not  land ;  the  insurgents  could  not  combine.  From  Brecon 
the  Duke  **  marched  through  the  forest  of  Deane  to  the  Severn ; 
but  the  bridges  were  broken  down,  and  the  river  was  so  swoln 
that  the  fiirds  had  become  impassable.  He  turned  back  to 
\Vf«*b!ry,  the  seat  of  the  lord  Ferrers ;  but  the  Welshmen  who 
h;u\  fi.illowc<l  him  dislMiiided ;  and  the  news  of  their  desertion 
in'IiioMl  thf*  other  iNxiieH  of  in.4iir^*ntH  to  provide  for  their  own 
Kifc-ty.  ThuH  the  Kiii^  triiiiiiphed  without  drawing  the  sword. 
Wt^.hley  wart  narrikwly  wutcheil  on  the  one  side  by  Sir  Humphrey 
>r.ifrird,  f>fi  the  (»th<*r  by  the  clan  of  the  Vaughans,  who  for 
fK«-ir  p'ward  \uu\  r(*i*eived  a  profiiiHe  (»f  the  plunder  of  Brecon. 
M-rtori  efliTtt-tl  his  eHi*ape  in  diH^iiMe  to  the  ble  of  Ely,  and 
t'.**n<*e  p:iHse<l  to  the  c<»ast  of  Flan«lerM;  (he  Duke^  in  a  tthnilar 
♦//>•-*,  rrnrhrd  the  hut  of  lianl^ti^r,  ouf  of  hU  9fntinin  in 
Shn»f»mhlfr^  v'hrre  h^  waa  hfintyeil  fc>/  (he  perfitfy  of  hia  host.  If 
!.••  li<*|N-4l  for  pardon  nii  the  merit  of  his  former  services,  he  hail 


254  BrCKC^GAM   BETRATD  BT  BASISIZSL 

mistaken  the  character  of  Richard.  That  prince  had  already 
reached  Salisbunr  with  his  army :  he  refused  to  see  the  priaoner, 
and  ordered  his  head  to  be  immediately  Etruck  off  in  the  market- 
place.'*    ( Lingard  v 

There  is  another  ballad  on  this  same  subject  given  in  the 
Collection  of  Old  Balla^ls,  vol.  iiL  1727,  entitled  «*The  life 
and  Death  of  the  Great  Duke  of  Buckingfiam,  iriio  came  to  an 
untimely  End,  for  consenting  to  the  deposing  of  the  two  gallant 
young  Princes,  King  Edward  the  Fourth^s  children.  To  the 
tune  of  Shore's  WifeJ^  In  point  of  style  this  is  of  much  the 
same  date  with  that  here  given  from  the  Folio.  It  is  the  pro- 
duction of  a  thorough-bred  ballad-writer,  viz.  Bobeit  Johnson, 
and  included  in  his  Croini  Garland  of  Golden  RoBea,  It  ad- 
ministers political  justice  in  the  same  uncompromising  manner : 

Thus  Banist^^r  was  forc*d  to  beg 
And  cnve  for  Food  with  Cap  and  Leg ; 
But  noDe  on  him  would  Bread  bestofw, 
That  to  his  Master  proT*d  a  Foe. 

Thus  wandring  in  this  poor  Estate, 
Repenting  his  misdeeds  too  late, 
Till  starred  he  gave  np  his  Breath, 
By  no  man  pitied  at  his  Death. 

To  wofnl  End  his  Children  came. 
Sore  punish'd  for  their  Father*8  shame; 
Within  a  channel  one  was  drown'd 
Where  water  scarce  coald  hide  the  ground. 

Another  by  the  Powers  divine 
Was  strangely  eaten  up  of  swine ; 
The  last  a  wofid  ending  makes 
By  strangling  in  an  empty  Jakes. 

A  third  ballad,  entitled  "  A  most  sorrowful  Song,  setting  forth 
the  miserable  end  of  Banister,  who  betrayed  the  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham, his  Lord  and  Master,"  is  in  the  Pepys  Collection,  voL  L 
p.  64,  and  reprinted  in  Evans's  Old  BalladSj  vol.  iii.  p.  23,  8vo, 
1810.     It  begins  thus  : — 


B0CUHOAH  BBTRATD  BT  BAHISTEI.  255 

If  erer  wight  had  esiua  to  me 
A  WTvtchfld  deed,  rile  and  imtni^, 
Then  Buiitter  with  ihame  may  ling, 
Who  lold  his  life  that  lartd  him. 

Perhapt  all  three  ballads  are  founded  on  some  common  older 
originaL 

1 OU:  Barons  bold,  mafrlke  ^  and  behold  Aitnuft 

tTMtatol 

the  thinge  Mat  I  will  rite  * ;  tiiL 

a  stoty  strange  A  yett  most  tme 

4  I  porpose  to  Endite.* 

ffor  the  Noble  Pcere  while  he  lined  heerOi 

the  dnke  of  Bnckingam,  Th>Dchior 

he  fBonrisht  in  King  Edwards  time^ 

5  the  4^  King  of  that  name. 

in  his  seirice  there  he  kept  a  man 

of  meane  ft  low  degree, 
whom  he  brought  rp  then  of  a  chyld 
is        from  bascnesse  to  dignitye ; 

he  fFsnc  him  lands  ft  linings  good  whom  h§ 

whort^>  ho  WM  noo  hcyre, 
ft  then  *  mochiMl  him  to  a  gallant  dame  iidmvrtm 

to  a  gBllAoi 

IS        as  rich  as  nhce  was  fay  re.  dsBi, 

it  came  to  luksno  in  tract  of  time 

hirt  wt*iihh  did  Mie  cxivll,  to  that  Um 

hiM  richiii  (lid  HnrfMUUH*  them  all 
so         ihtti  in  thii  8hin*  did  dwell. 


vmttliy; 


who  waA  noc  liraae  an  UaniMt^T  ?  MMdatw 

or  who  duntt  with  him  r(mt4*nd  ?  n^TLL*' 

wAich  *  wold  not  lie  d(*Hir(>u8  at  ill 
S4         to  be  hia  daylyc  freind  Y 

■  mark.^r.  *  writ^.— I*.  plare*  ar«  marked  in  i«d  brack«la,  for 

•  f»nly  half  th«  n  in  th*  MS.— K.  omi»Mon.— K 

*  This  aad  19  oliwr  wunU  ia  diflrirnt  *  vho.— P. 


256 


BUCKINOAM   BETRATD  BT   BAKISTER. 


88 


for  then  '  it  came  to  passe ;  more  woe,  alas ! 

for*  sorrowes  then  began; 
for  why,  the  Master  was  constraind  * 

to  seeke  succonr  of  his  man. 


Bichard  UI. 


innrdcn 
the  princes; 


Bnckinghara 
raiies  a  host 
to  STeng« 
them; 


bat  his  men 
flee  from 
Richard's 
army, 


aiid  he  flees 


to  Banister 


to  hide  him. 


then  Richard  the  S*  swaying  the  sword, 

crjed  himselfe  a  kinge,^ 
mnrthored  2  princes  in  their  bedds, 
32  w^tch  deede  great  striffe  did  bringe. 

&  then  the  duke  of  Buckingam, 

hating  this  bloody  deede, 
against  the  tyrant  raysed  an  Oaste 
36  of  armed  men  indeed. 

&  when  King  Richard  of  this  hard  tell, 

a  mightye  Ost  he  sent 
against  the  duke  of  Buckingam, 
40  his  purpose  to  prevent. 

&  when  the  dukes  people  of  this  heard  tell, 

ffeare  ffilled  their  hearts  echo  one ; 
many  of  his  souldiers  fledd  by  night, 
44  and  left  him  one  by  one. 

in  extreme  need  the  Duke  tooke  a  steede,* 

&  posted  night  and  day 

towards  Banister  his  man, 

48  in  secrett  there  to  stay. 

"  0  Banister,  Sweet  Banister  ! 

pitty  thow  my  cause,"  sayes  hee, 
"  &  hyde  me  from  mine*  Enemyes 
52  that  here  accuseth^  mee.** 


[pages? 


>  Now  it.— P. 

•  such.— P. 

'  The  M^    was  constrained  to  seek. 
-P. 

*  Himself  proclaimed  king. — P. 


*  Part  of  the  line  pared  off  tha  U 

— F. 
'  One  stroke  too  few  in  the  MEL— F 
'  persueth  (in  red  ink:  l^  Bsrejr 

his  late  hand.—  F.) 


BVOKIlfOAM   BETRATD   BT  BAN18TXB. 

'*  O,  joa  be  welcome,  mj  Lori !  *'  hee  lajGS, 

*'  jour  grace  is  welcome  here ! 
Sl  aa  mj  liffe  He  keepe  jou  safe, 
5«  although  it  cost  me  deere !  *' 

*'  be  true,  sweete  Baniiter  !  **  sayea  hee, 

O  sweete  Banister,  be  tme  !  '* 
*'  christs  carse,**  he  sajd,  '*  on  me  ft  mine 
•0  ifener  I  prone  fialse  to  jon  ! 

then  the  Dnke  cast  of  his  velaett  snte, 

his  chaine  of  gold  likwise, 
A  soe  he  did  his  velnett  capp, 
S4  to  blind  the  peoples  eyes ; 

a  lethem  lerkjn  *  on  his  backe, 

&  lethem  slopps  *  alsoc, 
a  heidging  bill  ypon  his  backe, 
ss  ft  soe  into  the  woods  did  goe  ! 

an  old  felt  hat  rppon  his  head. 

With  20  holes  therin  ; 
ft  noe  in  labor  ho  upent  the  time, 
*i  SM  tho  fome  drudgt*  he  liad  bcene. 

ft  there  he  liaed  long  vnknowen, 

ft  still  rnknowne  mi^ht  bee, 
till  Banister  for  ho|)e  of  f^Aino 
7S  betrayd  him  ludsitlye. 

for  a  prr«<;lamation  there  was  made, 

*  whosoetter  then  cold  bringe 
newes  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingam 
so  to  Richard  then  oar  Kinge, 


257 

BaaiiUr 


▼owttokecp 
him  tafe. 


cnneon 
me  If  I  be 
I" 


BockinfluuB 
tAkefloff  bis 
▼el  ret 
cloibea. 


dmw*  MA 
woodm«a, 


mmX  worki 
away 


In  MfeCjr. 


Bot  Hicbanl 


Vr    Jmr^fA,  Jmr^,  %   kind   of  ccmrw 


gnkxt :  in  WcJ|fw«iuil. — F. 

•  aloppa,    A   kind   of  open   brtechea, 
trowtrrt.    Johnson. — P. 


%••!-.    II. 


258 


BUCKINOAM   BETRATD  BT  BANISTBIL 


offers  1000 
marks 

and  knight- 
hood, for 
news  of 
Bucking- 
ham. 


Banister 
becr«7shls 


*  a  1000  markes  shalbe  his  ffee 

of  gold  &  silver  bright, 
&  then  be  preferred  by  his  grace, 
84        &  made  a  worthy  knight.' 

&  when  Banister  of  that  heard  tell, 

straight  to  the  court  sent  hee, 
&  soe  betrayd  his  Master  good 
88        for  lucre  of  thai  fiee. 


ickingfaam 
seised. 


Bnckim 


a  herald  of  armes  there  was  sent, 

&  men  with  weapons  good, 
who  did  attach  this  noble  Duke 
92         where  he  was  labouring  in  the  wood. 


He  re- 
proaches 
Banister, 


"  Ah,  ffalse  Banister  !  a,  wreched  man  ! 

Ah,  Caitifie  !  "  then  sayes  hee  ; 
"  haue  I  maintained  thy  poore  estate 
96        to  deale  thus  ludaslye? 


*^  alas  that  euer  I  beleeued 

that  fflattenng  tounge  of  thine ! 
woe  worth  the  time  that  euer  I  see 
100        that  false  Bodye  of  thine  !  '* 


bnt  is  be- 
headed at 
Balisbary. 


then  ffraught  with  feare  &  many  a  teare, 

wtth  sorrowes  almost  dead, 
this  noble  Duke  of  Buckingam 
104        att  Salsbury  >  lost  his  head. 


Banister 


la  cast  into 
prison, 


then  Banister  went  to  the  court, 

hoping  this  gold  to  haue, 
but  straight  in  prison  hee  was  cast, 
108         &  hard  his  liffe  to'  saue. 


»  query  Shrewsbury. — P. 


*  hard  his  life  could*— -P. 


BUOUIIOAM  BITBATD  BT  BA1II8TEI.  259 


■mall  ffireindi  he  found  in  his  dittreste, 

nor  anj  comfort  in  his  need, 
bat  eaerj  man  reniled  him  RftM  by 

IIS        [for]  this  '  his  trecherons  deede. 


A  then,  according  to  his  wishe,  mACMien 

gods  ladgments  did  on  him  &11 ;  pa  hia : 

his  children  were  consumed  qaito, 
I  IS        his  goods  were  wasted  all ; 

fiur  one  of  his  sones  for  grecfle  Starke  madd  did  fall;'  ommb 

the  Other  fibr  sorrow  drowned  was  UMoteit 

within  a  shallow  mning  streame 
110         where  coery  man  might  passe. 


his  dangter  right  of  bewtje  bright, 

to  such  Icwde  lifie  did  flail 
thai  thee  djed  in  great  miserje  ; 
iS4         A  thus  they  were  wasted  all. 


OM  lianiittor  liae<l  long  in  shame,  H«Ufwtm 

A  att  the  lenght  did  dye ;  diM. 

A  tliuA  they  I^ml  did  plague  them  all 
124         flur  thJH  hiri  treclier}'e. 

now  pnl  blewu*  our  kin(^  A  counccll  graue,'  Q«d«Bd 

in  ir^NlnoAH  Htill  to  pnK'ecil ; 

A  M»nd  fu<*n'  *  distn»HH«l  man  •>''"  ■••* 

132         a  U'ttor  flrfititi  att  hcimI  !  (finS.  ttitnAi 


•  *  r*h:«     Qii.^P.  «  Ow  k«    Of    blMs  And  gisnt  hit 

■   •'Ark  mill  *\v.\  UW.  -  I*.    Tbit  line  i«  (n^cr      I*. 
cj^\'   t«'.    i:i    tb«    MS.     Starie   b«^o«  *  to  each. — P. 

1     ••  »  _K 


9   I 


260 


This  ballad  is  printed  in  the  Reliques,  yol.  iL  pp.  198-200,  under 
the  title  of  **  The  Murder  of  the  King  of  Scots."  Percys  Intro- 
duction, p.  197,  is  as  follows: — "  The  catastrophe  of  Henry  Stewart, 
lord  Darnley,  the  unfortunate  husband  of  Mary  Q.  of  Scots,  is 
the  subject  of  this  ballad.  It  is  here  related  in  that  partial  im- 
perfect manner,  in  which  such  an  event  would  naturally  strike 
the  subjects  of  another  kingdom;  of  which  he  was  a  native. 
Henry  appears  to  have  been  a  vain  capricious  worthless  young 
man,  of  weak  understanding,  and  dissolute  morals.  But  the 
beauty  of  his  person,  and  the  inexperience  of  his  youth,  would 
dispose  mankind  to  treat  him  with  an  indulgence,  which  the 
cruelty  of  his  murder  would  afterwards  convert  into  the  most 
tender  pity  and  regret:  and  then  imagination  would  not  tsdl 
to  adorn  his  memory  with  all  those  virtues,  he  ought  to  have 
possessed.  This  will  account  for  the  extravagant  elogium  be- 
stowed upon  him  in  the  first  stanza,  &c 

"  Henry  lord  Damley,  was  eldest  son  of  the  earl  of  Lennox, 
by  the  lady  Margaret  Douglas,  niece  of  Henry  VIII.  and 
daughter  of  Margaret  queen  of  Scotland  by  the  earl  of  Angus, 
whom  that  princess  married  after  the  death  of  James  IV. — 
Damley,  who  had  been  born  and  educated  in  England,  was  but 
in  his  21st  year,  when  he  was  married,  Feb.  9,.  1567-8. 
This  crime  was  perpetrated  by  the  E.  of  Bothwell,  not  out  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  David  Riccio,  but  in  order  to  pave  the 
way  for  his  own  marriage  with  the  queen. 

>  On  the  Murthn*  of  David  Ricdo  and  of  the  king  of  Scotts.    Written  wliiU  tke 
Queen  of  Scotts  was  in  Eiigland. — ^P. 


tKMLJL  BODWXLL. 


261 


ballad  (printed '  from  the  Editor^g  folio  M8.)  seems  to 
have  been  written  soon  after  Mary's  escape  into  England  in 
1568,  see  ▼•  65. — It  will  be  remembered  at  y.  5,  that  this  princess 
was  Q.  dowager  of  France,  having  been  first  married  to 
Francis  II,  who  died  Dec.  4,  1560." 


f  f  0£:  worth  thee,  woe  worth  thee,  fitlse  ScotUande ! 

ffor  thon  hast  eo^  wrought  bj  a  '  sleight ; 
for  '  the  worthiest  Prince  that  euer  was  borne, 
4       joa  hanged  mder  a  cloud  bj  night ! 

the  qnecne  of  ITranoe  a  letter  wrote, 

A  sealed  itt '  with  hart  and  ringe ; 
A  bade  him  come  Scottland  within, 
s        A  thee  wol^  marry  him  '  Sl  crowne  him  King-. 

to  be  a  KiN^,  itt '  is  a  pleasant  thing  ; 

to  bee  ^  a  Prince  mto  a  Peere ; 
hot  jou  haue  heard,  Sl  so  haue  I  too,' 
IS        a  man  maj  well  by  *  gold  to  deere. 

there  wms  an  Italyan  in  that  place, 

wim  HH  welheloved  aH  euer  waii  hcc  ; 
ijctnl  David  ^  wan  hi8  name, 
l€        rliamlifrlaine  '  vnto  the  Qucene  was  h<»o. 

ffrir  *  if  the  Kin^  hmi  risen  forth  '  of  hiH  place, 

he  wold  haue  Hitl*  him  downe  in  the  cheare,*® 
A,  tho  ttt  "  IteMxenifHl  him  not  m>e  well, 
to        altho  the  King  had  liei*ne  "  pre*«ent  there. 


'  S»  io  2nd  ftOfl  .Inl  rtlitioiM  t<x> : 
•*  j-not**!  With  A  few  currecl  iim*/'  llh  rtl. 

F 

«  //'/  omit«  thf^.— F.  4th  »od  2od 
at'J  Irl  r«iiti«ii-«  rr^torr  t>'0,  1.  1). 

•  i!  —  />/       Itt.       Vk  ft/. 

•  U       /M.     \jrr.-4tktJ. 

•  }'iy       V 

•  An  i  I>jii'*  Ik  axo  qo.  \>am  \  WiMxio. 
-    !•• 


Wo«  to  jon, 
Sootland, 
too't« 
taMifvdtlM 

bCMof 

PrlBoail 


QatmUmtj 
him 


mmnj  bar; 


hat  fhe  had 
%n  Inftitleni 
Chain  tirr- 
Uia.  fliuio, 


'  I^»ni  Chatnbrrl".— P. 

•  fn.m.     V. 

•  »at«.     /^/. 

'•  i*  1  h'  cluiire.—  M.    io  the  chemrr.   - 

"  although    it.-'Iffi.     And  iho  itt.— 

itk  rfi. 

"  AdI    tho    .    .    .    .  wcrp.—P.       lit  I. 
Althou;:h  .   .   had  hieiir.  —  itk  fd. 


•  Atal    iMvM    Rkvio.-ilr/.     linrd   tetld.     4A  W. 


262 


EABLE  BODWELL. 


•nd  ••me 
Scotch  lord* 


some  lords  in  Scottland  waxed  wonderons  ^  wrotiiy 

&  quarrelld  w/tli  him  for  the  nonce  *  : 
I  sliall  vou  tell  '  how  itt  befiell ; 
subbed  him.     24        12  daggers  wcre  in  him  all  ^  att  once. 


ThcQreim 
wiw  wroth, 


when  this  qneene  see  the  ^  Chamberlains  was  '  slaine, 

for  him  her  *  cheeks  shee  did  weete, 
&  made  a  vow  for  a  1-  month  <t  a  daj  ^ 
28        the  J^iii'j  &  shee  ^  wold  not  come  in  one  sheete. 


Hnd  other 
LortU 


TOwed  to 
kill  the 
King. 


then  some  of  the  honh  of  Scottland  *  waxed  wrothe, 

&  made  their  vow  ^  vehementlje, 
*  for  death  of  the  queenes  *®  Chamberlaine  ** 
32        the  King  himselfe  he  shall  dje.'  ** 


they  strowed  his  chamber  oner  with  gunpowder/* 

<!b  layd  greene  rashes  in  his  way  ; 
ffor  the  traitors  thought  that  ^*  night 
36        the  **  worthy  king  for  to  betray.*® 


Thevset 

firetohifl 

bedroom, 


he  jnmped 
oat  of 
M'iiiduw, 


to  bedd  the  worthy  King  made  *^  him  bowne  ;  *• 

to  take  his  rest,  that  *^  was  his  desire ; 
he  was  noc  sooner  cast  on  sleejxje,^*^ 
40        but  his  chamber  was  on  a  biasing  fyer.^* 

vp  he  lope,  &  a  glasso  *^  window  broke ; 
he  23  had  30  foote  for  to  flFall. 


'  Re/,  omits  these. — F. 
»  ?  MS.  noncett,  with  tt  blotted  out.— 
F.     nonce.  —Bel. 

•  And   I   shall    tell.— 7?<?/.       4M  ed. 
omits  And. 

•  the  queen  she  saw  her. — Bd.     ith 
ed.  omits  she,  and  restores  was. 

»  [her]  fair.— P. 

•  year  &  a  day. — ^P. 
'  shee'd  ne'er. — P. 

•  lords  they. — Bel. 

•  [vow]  now. — P. 

>•  That  for  the  death   of    the.— i?f/. 
For  the  death  of  the  queenes. — ith  ed. 


"  Queen's  Lo.  Ch».— P. 

*'  How  he,  the  king  himself  sM  dje. 
— P.  and. — Bei.  The  king  himselfe 
how  he  shall  dye. — ith  ed, 

"  with  Gunpowdt  they  strew^  his 
room. — P. 

u  very.— P.  i»  this.— !?«/. 

^*  Itetraye. — Bfl.    betray.— 4<*  ed, 

»'  the  k>  he  made— P. 

"  ready,  paratus.  Lye. — ^P. 

'•  omitted.— /;?<!/. 

*•  sleope. — Bel, 

«'  it  was  all  on  fire.— P. 

«  and  the.— /?«/.  »  And.— P. 


SABLE  BODWEIX.  263 

Lord  Bodwell  kqit  a  prinj  wach 

vndemeath  '  hia  castle  wall. 

**  who  hane  wee  *  heere  ?  **  sajd  Lord  Bodwell ;  a^  wm 

"  answer  me,  now  I  doe  call."  *  LhSt 


BolhwvU, 


^  Kin*;  Ilrnery  the  B*^  mj  vnckle  was ; 
4S       some  pitt J  show  for  his  sweet  sake !  ^ 


''  Ah,  Lord  Bodwell !  I  know  thee  weU ;  whoi»h» 

some  pittj  on  me  I  praj  thee  take  !  *' 


tff 


will  woiddl 


•'He *  pitty  thee  as  much,"  he  sayd,  5fi SSl 

SS        "  A  as  mach  favor  *  He  show  to  thee 

As  thoa  had  on  the  Qneencs  Chamberlaine       (pi^  trt) 
that  day  thoa  dccmodst '  him  to  dye.* 


ft 


htaioa* 


through  halls  A  towers  this  *  King  they  Ledd, 
M        throagh  castles  A  towers  '*  that  were  hye,^^ 
throagh  an  arbor  into  an  orchard, 

A  there  hanged  him  in  a  poare  tree.'* 


wIm'H  the  ir*»u#'ni"r  of  Srottland  he  "  heard  tell  *•  tim  Go- 

to       ^A'lt  *'  the  worthyc  kin^  ho  *'  wus  slaine,  cumdMAry, 

h<'  hath  liaiUHhfil  ^^  the  i^tteeno  fw>e  bitterlye 
thai  in  S*tittl»ml  hhei*  dart*  not  runuiinc; 


'  all  Wfi'   Ke,     V      All  un>i*ni«*ntli.  '  i.e.  <l<jimi(«l«t' d<*«in.    Mi   opioan, 

H'f      I'nili  rn»-iiih  hi*    -Afk  rJ.  <*«iMTf.  jii«lii«r«.      Jnn. — P.      1.  61  b 

>w'      Uel     wrr      I'A  n/.  I«rtlv  partHl  olTthe  MiS.— F. 

'  N'/v  BbftWrr  ni«>  th.«t  I  maj  ko'iv.  *  tiyr.'-^Kel,       di«, — with     the    note 

fM  "  iViiniiunt-vd  after  the  northern  nuuinrr 

•  I    T    hi«    iWMt.'    •.ikr    «ii.mr    j.ittT  «/^ "  in  *■*!•  2,  3«  4. 
•!,    «   -/.V/                                                             '  •   thr.  —  P. 

T^^  a«tt  twii  lifii*  Vvtcy  hiu  «Ii»-rr«l  ••  thn/  towrn  &  r««tlr«.  fte. — P. 

"  ny.  — /,V/. 

....     .         _    L      V  1     I  ft   I     M        I  "  '11>'»^  "o  •  pr«n*  tw*"  h«iurd  him 

y  «  .r..wrr  m«>  «hrn  I  d.--  .j<.kr.l.K.  '^"nnuxird.^ifrl.         "  bov  thm...  p. 

•  I  .1      M  '»  Hi*  Prr^ttrJ.—i?*/.     ?  b«ni«h •* Un, 


264 


EABLS  BODWELL. 


•nd  vh^fled 
to  EngLuid, 

whcTP  the 
now  la. 


but  shee  is  fl9ed  into  Meny  KngUnd, 
64        &  Scottland  to  aside  bath  laine ;  ^ 

&  throngb  the  Qneene  of  Englanda  good*  giaoe 
now  in  England  shee  doth  ramaine  * 

ffins. 


'  And  here  her  resideuce  hath  tane. 
— Rel.  A  change  not  for  the  better. 
— F. 


•  omitted.— J?e/. 

•  In  Englf    now  ihee  doth 
—P. 


[Thoee  readers  (if  any)  who  have  looked 
at  the  notes  will  haTe  noticed  that  the 
fourth  edition  of  the  Rtli^s  has  restored 
the  reading  of  the  MS.  m  sereral  places 
where  the  first  has  altered  it, — though  in 
others  it  Inaves  the  changes  of  the  first 
edition  nntoached : — thus  in  lines 

Fint  three  editions.      Fourth  edition  and  MS. 
6.  it         is  changed  into  \Xt 


which  Percy  altered  in 


edition  to 


15. 

And  Darid  Kiccio 

t> 

Lord  David 

18. 

i'  th*  chaire 

If 

in  the  cheare 

19. 
20. 
23. 

Although  it 
And  though 
And  I 

And  tho  itt 
Altho 

I 

26. 
26. 

queene  shee 
slaine 

ft 
If 

queene 
was  slaine 

29. 

wroth 

ti 

wrothe 

36. 
44. 

brtraye 

All  underneath 

ft 
>> 

betray 
Underneath  his 

46. 

we 

ft 

wee 

61. 

hee 

ft 

he 

62. 

faronr 

*« 

fiiTor 

while  in  lines  31-32  the  manuscript 

"  for  death  of  the  queenes  Chamberlaine, 
the  King  himselfe  he  shall  dye," 


That  for  the  death  of  the  ehamberiaine. 
How  hee,  the  king  himselfe  abolde  dye^ 

he  changed  back  in  the  fonrtii  to, 

For  the  death  of  the  qoeenes  ehamber- 
laine. 
The  king  himaelfe,  how  he  aball  die." 

I  write  he  changed  back,  for  Mr.  Darid 
Laing  says  that  a  £riend  of  Percys  and 
his  assured  him  that  Peny  himself 
edited  the  fourth  edition  of  the  Rtiiquu, 
and  that  with  sreat  can,  though  he  let 
his  nephew,  in  £e  Advertisement  to  that 
edition,  take  the  responsibility  of  it  off 
his  own  episcopal  shonlders,  supposed  to 
be  burdened  with  "more  important" 
matters.  It  is,  indeed,  evident  that  the 
many  chan^  made  in  the  tot  of  the 
fourth  edition  must  have  been  carsfolly 
considered  by  Percy,  for  thej  are  dianges 
of  lines  sometimes  as  well  as  of  woras. 
-F.] 


265 


•SiB  Introduction  to  Kiiig  James  £  Brown,  vol.  i.  p.  135. 

TbU  piece  is  printed  in  the  Rdiquea.  **  The  original  copy/' 
•ays  Percy,  ^(preiterved  in  the  archives  of  the  Antiquarian 
Society 9  London)  iii  entitled,  ^  A  new  Ballad,  declaring  the  great 
treason  conspired  against  the  young  King  of  Scots,  and  how  one 
Andrew  Browne,  an  Englishman,  which  was  the  King's  Chamber- 
laine,  prevented  the  same.  To  the  tune  of  Milfield,  or  els  to 
Green-fJeeves.*  At  the  end  is  subjoined  the  name  of  the  author 
*  W.  Elderton.*  *  Imprinted  at  London  for  Yarathe  James, 
dwelling  in  Newgate  Market^  over  against  Ch.  Church,*  in  black- 
letter  folio.*" 

It  is  the  work  of  the  professional  ballad-writer  who  could 
^  rhyme  you  so  eight  years  together,  dinners  and  suppers  and 
ttleeping-hours  excepted";  and  it  is  well-executed  work  of  its 
*i«»rt.  The  image  is  fairly  well  shaped ;  but  there  is  scarcely  a 
itpark  of  Heaven^s  fire  in  it — no  breath  of  life  breathed  into  its 
ntif^trilit. 

It  was  writtrn,  no  doubt,  rather  to  give  information  than 
eiitertainineiit.  At  a  time  when  there  were  no  newspapeni  cir- 
culating through  the  country,  the  iMilhul  wuj^  an  ordinary  vehicle 
of  nt.'WH.  ** Marry,  they  say  that  the  running  BUUionere  of 
hfitihtu^  I  mean  such  as  use  to  nnuj  halhulit^  and  thooe  that  cry 
riiali^^nxuit  [Munphlets,  &c."  {Knaven  are  lament  men,  or  More 
K/ui'fji  yrt^  apud  Collier'rt  Book  of  Koxburglie  Ballads«) 

•    N  W    Tl;;*  r«^<T  it  T»n-   inij'«rfr«i.  itvof*,  vol.  ii.  j..  204,  Sr«t  (^litii>n,  in  tbo 

v*^    I'vffr  ;.H  A  .'#U  (of  MS  )i  Suniai  fh.-  **Kink'  of  .S-«.t»  ailI   AiHlnw  Hn^wiif*." 

':%•'  .1.  WiJit  Vim*  (%ul.  i    p.  111.  1.  lOH  9  Thv   v«n.ion   thm*   )>niit«^l   rotilAiii*   l.'S 

f  ;  nv*  \  mhrr*  thr  •uhjivt  «.(  tin-.  lMlla<l  niAntiv,  m\\\U*  tlic   |«r»-^  nt   **t\v  Iuk"  **tt\y 

*  m..'Mi*A   to. —IV      Hje  title  ill  the  He-  lo.  ^imI  two  of  thvtio  arr  itHtmiplrlr.      h. 

l«»l.    II.  T 


266 


BISHOPPE  AND   BROWNE. 


How  sad 
thatmlqectf 
can't  be 
tmel 


IeSUS  god  !  what  >  greeffe  is  this 

that  Princes  subiects  cannot  be  true  ! 
bnt  still  the  devill  A  '  some  of  his 
4       doth  plaj  his  part,  as  plaine  is  in  shew.' 


InSootlaiid 


in  Scottland  dwelles  a  bonj  king, 

as  proper  a  youth  as  anj  can  bee ; 
bee  is  ginen  to  enery  happy  ^  thing 
8       that  can  be  in  a  Prince  to  see.' 


King 
James's 
nurse  heard 
that  he  was 
to  be 
poisoned. 


She  called 
for  help. 


12 


on  whitsontyde,  as  itt  befell, 

a  possett  was  made  to  gine  the  King ; 
&  that  his  Ladye  Norse  heard  tell 

that  itt  was  made  a  poysoned  thing, 
shee  cryed,  &  called  pittionslye, 
"  helpe !  or  else  the  King  most  dye !  " 


Browne 

sprang 

forwsjd, 


leapt  out  of 
a  window, 


&  Browne  being  ^  an  Englishman, 
16       he  did  heare  ^  that  Ladyes  pityoos  orye ; 

but  with  his  sword  he  besturred  him  then ; 
forth  att  the  dore  he  thought  to  fflee, 

but  euery  doro  was  made  full  &8t ; 
20   forth  of  a  window  hee  lope  at  last.^ 


met  the 
Bishop  with 
the 


he  mett  the  Bishopp  att  the  dore, 
Sd  with,  the  possett  in  his  hand, 
the  sight  of  Browne  made  the  Bishopp  agast ; 


*  Out  alas  I  what  a. — Rel. 
»  hath.— 7?e/. 

■  Will  play  their  parts,  whatsoevor 
ensuo : 
Forgetting  what  a  grievous  thing 
It  is  to  offend  tho  anointed  kinge? 
Alas  for  woo,  why  should  it  be  so, 
This  makes  a  sorrowful  heigh  ho. 

— /W. 
The  collation  after  this  is  not  com- 
plete.—F. 


*  The  y  is  made  over  an  A  in  the  HS- 
— F. 

*  Rel.  adds : — 

Yet  that  unlndde  oonntzie  itill 
Hath  people  given  to  cnftie  will, 
Alas  for  woe,  &c 

'  One  Browne  that  wns. — lid, 
^  And  hard,— Sel. 

*  MS.  at  last  lope  hee.— F.    Oat  oft 
window  he  got  at  uwt — Bel, 


Bk»HOPPI   AMD   BBOWNE. 


26? 


u        he  bade  him  soe  boldleje  stay  A  stand, 
with  him  wore  2  thai  ran  awaje 
for  fearo  lest  browne  shold  make  a  fray. 


**  Bimhopp,**  said  Browne,  "  what  hast  thon  there  ?** 
S«        **  nothing  at  aU,  my  ffrcindc,^"  Quoth  hee, 

**  bat  a  posnett  to  make  the  King  good  cheere.** 
"  in  itt  soe  ?  "  sayd  Browne,  **  that  will  I  see  ; 

before  thou  goe  any  farther  inn, 
a:e    of  this  possett  thoa  shalt  begin.'* 


pOMWt, 


t4 


r«i«ot«dhUi 
bribMtobe 
quiet. 


andBUMle 


tbeBlidiop 
drink  th« 


The 


nUhop 
biirvt  aod 
divd. 


Browne,**  said  the  Bishopp,  "  I  know  thee  well ; 
thoa  art  a  yong  man  both  pore  A  bare ; 
A  linings  'of  thee  I  shall  bestowe  ; 
36        goe  thou  thy  way,  A  take  noe  care.** 
"  noe  !  **  said  Browne,  *'  that  shall  not  bee ! 
He  not  be  a  traitor  for  all  christentye ! 
for  be  itt  for  wayle,*  or  for  woe  be  itt, 
4't       drinke  thoa  off  this  sorrowfoll  possett.** 

tlte  Bishopp  dranke ;  then  by  A  by 
hiH  iK'lly  burst,  A  he  ffell  downe : 
a  xusi  rewanl  for  his  traitorj'c. 
4  4        **  niarrj',  this  was  a  |K)8Hett  indei^d  !  '*  sayd  Browne, 
he  warched  the  Binhopp,  A  found  they  Kayes 
to  ^ue  to  the  King  when  he  did  pleast*. 

&  when  the  Kingc  heard  tell  of  thJH, 
**         he  mwkelye  fell  downe  on  Iuh  kiH»e. 

A  thanketl  gtxl  thii  he  did  misso 
then  of  this  false  trecherj'e  ; 

&  th(*n  he  did  p**rceiae  &  know 
'.t    /All  hi*  cler^ye  wold  haue  him  l>etraid  [so.*] 


'   J}.'   \\ma  f  \%  RiAoir  oTiT  All  *  ill  »h«'  wntt«*n  for  weal,  wrlfiiff,  («ood :  writteu 

M"»       V .  1>J  th««  Sootii  wril.  Wflr, — I*. 

•  <»:.l'i  Kalf  th**  •  in  the  MS.  -F.  '  U'^.    iri«»«ii>«    iiii<»lhrr   Manrn    hriv, 

•  a       H*l  tnd  »*»iJ*  f«»ur  nft«r  \\\v  nt  xf .      F 

•  .  r    dCTvnr      onlr^t  it  be  comi|itW 

T   2 


thanked 
(»«jd. 


268 


BISHOPPE  ASiD  BBOWXE. 


nrwarJM 
the  iiur!«, 


he  called  the  nnrssc  befor  his  grace, 

A  gaae  vnto  her  20H*  pounds  [a  yeere.] 
donghtje  Browne,  [i']  the  like  cafiCt 
56       he  dubbd  him  Knight  with  gallant  cheere, 
bestowed  Tpon  him  linings  great 
[For  dooing  sach  a  manly  feat.'] 

ffins. 


'  La8t  lino  cat  awaj   in   the  MS. ; 
supp1ie<i  lu-rt*  from  the  liel,, -which  adds  : 

Ah  hi*  dirl  hhowc,  to  the  bishop's  woe, 
Which  made  &c. 


and  then  four  more  Btanau  about  afiresh 
attempt  to  make  away  with  the  King. 
— F. 


€b(Oit  ceiatrrtf.' 


rpi^fM} 


TatB  balUd  wae  printed  in  the  lUliques  from  the  Folio,  with  a 
i^m  "■  corraetionA,'*  Those  amount  to  tlie  inBcrtion  of  mx  d«w 
tinea,  and  numoroiu  minor  changm.  The  copy  is  indeed  Home- 
■hat  mutilated,  and  neoded  a  little  patching  to  make  it  present- 
able to  tite  gv&eral  reader. 

"Sereral  traditional  veniona,"  aa^rs  Proreaaor  Child  In  bia 
£nylitk  <intt  Seuich  BaJlatU, "  hare  nnce  been  prioted,  of  which 
««  ffrt  Burt!  Kllfn  from  JamfcitoirN,  and  iu  the  Appendix  Latty 
Slarrjnni  from  Klnloch'a  (^llectiou.  Jamieston  aUo  funtiahea  a 
fraKmmt,  and  Iluchan* ( fl*iWnJ»  o/  the  Surth  of  S(»(/«tii/,  ii.  30) 
a  complete  oop^  of  another  Tenion  of  Bunl  £lUii ;  and  (vliombera 
{SeoltiMh  BalioiU,  193)  niakca  up  an  edition  from  all  the  copies, 
■faicb  WB  mention  beru  lx-«auM!  he  has  taken  some  line*  from  a 
I  manoaeript  tupplinl  liy  Mr.  Kinloch." 

e  Ion  and  fidelity  of  a  woman  arc  bne  ineA  to  the  utmost 
Wane  soflTeriogs  than  are  eron  mcntioDol  in  the  Kui- 
\  Jtaidt  aod  in  that  feeble  reBection  of  it,  A  Jiga*,  are  here 
ed.     Certainly  "  Burd  Ellen  "  ia  the  bt^tter,  more 
Mve  title  (or  the  ballad.     She  ia  the  one  centre  of  interest 
)  ooe  lirin(  glory  and  delight.     Child  Wateni  appean 
bot  io  iotniduoe  her — to  "  bring  her  oul  " — to  furnish  her  witli 
I  SB  opportunity  for  dlafilaying  ber  splendid  truat  and  ailheretice< 
:  be  reguded  so,  or  be  is  intolendtte.     Tliia  {wri  he 
s  «ssellently.  He  brings  Ellen'a  hitlifulness  into  glorious 


I 
I 


■■4         •  Tkia   Bariwa   (vbaa  I  wk»  m- 
MaM.    HbMti«      dMfoond  M>  astfas  (■  Ua  mnt*  Iqr 
*-'-  "~  aailaiM      inntiag  MRhaaMS ft*  Ma  Wkit  «■■ 
.  ■htU      •  WM^dH  inw;  MMaJf  mflVm 
k  sgnMl      thai  W^MWA*d«H)  bauaalai  teas 
•MaiM^lUm. 


270  CHILDE  WATEB8. 

relief.  Let  this  and  kindred  ballads,  then,  be  accepted  as  atone- 
ments f*jT  the  light  doubting  talk  men  sometimes  hold  about 
women. 

Be  it  true  or  vnng 

Tbe««  men  among 

On  vomen  do  coim{4AUie 

AiTennTDg  this 

Hov  that  it  is 

A  Ul-oor  spent  in  rmine 

To  lore  them  wele 

For  never  a  dele 

Thi-y  lore  a  man  agajne. 

For  lote  a  man 

Do  what  he  can 

Thtr  faToar  to  attayne 

Yet  yf  a  newe 

To  them  pursue 

Ther  furst  trew  lover  than 

I^boureth  f<ir  nought 

And  from  hor  thought 

He  is  a  banni^sbhcd  man. 

I  say  not  nay 

But  that  all  (hiy 

It  is  1)0th  writ  &  sayde 

That  woman's  fayth 

Is  as  who  sayth 

All  utterly  docayi^d. 

This  and  kindred  ballads  show  how,  in  spite  of  many  sad 
scandals,  in  spit«  of  suspicions  and  sneers,  the  heart  of  men 
still  nursed  and  cherished  a  precious  fond  belief  in  the  truth 
of  women.  Much  frivolity  there  might  be/  much  hypocrisy, 
much  falseness ;  but  ever  here  and  there  was  one  to  be  found 
— one  who,  through  good  report  and  through  evil,  through  all 
extreme  distre&scs  and  neglects  and  cruelties,  would  never  with- 
draw her  trust  from  him  to  whom  once  she  had  given  it — ^would 
never  falsify  the  vows  she  had  once  uttered — ^would  never 
fail  from   her  true-love's   side — una  de  multis  fa>ce  nupUali 

^  Soo  the  hnllnd  in  tho  mHro  of  the      beginning, 
Notbrowno  Mayd  in  Mr.  Skcat's  IVofoce  masteroa  anne, 

to  Partcnay,  p.  ii,  (£.  E.  T.  Soc.  1866)  I  am  your  man.— F. 


CHILDB  WATBBS.  271 


difpuju  Such  an  one  b  Ellen  in  this  ballad.  She  illustrates  how 
**  many  waters  cannot  quench  love,  neither  can  the  floods  drown 
it.^  She  cares  nothing  for  gold  and  fee ;  had  rather  have  one 
k\m  of  her  love's  mouth  or  one  twinkling  of  his  eye  than 
^  Cheshire  and  Lancashire  b^  ^ ;  will  lay  aside  her  woman's 
dress,  sacrifice  her  long  yellow  locks,  endure  strange  hardships 
— running  barefoot  through  the  broom  and  struggling  through  the 
water — invoke  generous  blessings  on  the  head  of  her  8a{q>osed 
rival,  obey  the  most  tr3ring  orders,  that  she  may  accompany  and 
please  the  master  of  her  heart.  Her  love  never  hesitates.  HVlien, 
after  much  ill  usage,  she  gives  birth  to  a  child  in  the  stable 
whither  she  has  gone  in  the  early  morning  to  feed  the  Child's 
horse,  she  lets  no  murmur  against  the  author  of  her  miseries 
escape  her. 

She  said,  **  LoUAbjr,  mj  own  dear  child, 

LoUaby,  dear  child  dear ! 
/  w<mU  tkffmiher  wtrt  m  king, 

Tkff  wmiker  Imd  am  m  bitr." 

In  the  end  her  trust  wins  its  reward. 

**  Ve^et  DOW."  he  said.  "  gtiod  fair  EUeo, 

And  U*  of  good  chwr,  I  \h*^  pfmj ; 
Aod  the  bhdAl  and  the  chDrchiiig  both 

Thry  thall  hr  ap*>a  one  daj.** 


CHILDE  :   waiters  in  hi8  stable  stoode.  To  cukir 

&  atroaket  hiii  milke  white  steede : 
to  him  came  a  flTaire  young  Ladyo  2»*  '•*' 

«         an  ere  did  weare  *  womann  wee[dc  ' ;] 

Hues,  **  chriat  you  aaae,  good  Chyld  waters !  *'  g.^,, 

■ayea,  "  chriat  you  aaue  and  aee  ! 
ray  girdle  of  jjoUl  wAich  waa  too  longe 
••         is  now  to  short  ffor  mee  ; 


I 


ware       I*.      .  trf  »«rr.  — //f/.  '   wrv^i.      V 


272 


CHILDX  WAXBBS. 


"  I  am  with 
cJ-i:  I  hr 


12 


«( 


&  all  is  with  one^  cbjld  of  yours, 
I  ffeele  srurre  att  mr  side, 
mv  gowne  of  greene,  it  is  to  strajgbt ; 
before  it  was  to  wide." 


Uwo. 


take 
lanraahire,      16 


''  if  the  child  be  mine,*  &ire  Ellen,'*  he 

"  be  mine,  as  yon  tell  mee, 
take  '  yon  Cheshire  &  Lancashire  both, 

take  them  yoifr  owne  to  bee. 


yd. 


•nl  nuke 
ti.e  child 
jour  heir.* 


20 


"  if  the  child  be  mine,  fiaire  Ellen,"  he  said, 

"  be  mine,  as  yon  doe  sweare, 
take  yon  Cheshire  &  Lancashire  both, 

Sl  make  that  child  your  heyre.'* 


'Tdntber 
hATeakiw 


24 


shee  sales,  "  I  had  rather  hane  one  kisse, 

child  waters,  of  thy  month, 
then  I  wold  hane  Cheshire  &  lancashire  both, 

that  lyes  *  by  north  A  sonth. 


ami  a  look 
from  you, 
than  yoar 
coantiai." 


28 


"  <&  I  had  rather  hane  a  twinkling. 

Child  waters,  of  yof*r  eye,* 
then  I  wold  hane  Cheshire  &  Lancashire  both, 

to  take  them  mine  onne  to  bee !  *' 


He  nays 
ho  muAttake 
tho  faint>t 
Ivly  north 
with  him. 


Ellon  aflks 
to  he  hi«i 
footpage. 


32 


"  to-morrow,  Ellen,  I  mnst  forth  ryde 
soe  ffarr  into  *  the  North  conntrye ; 
the  fiairest  Lady  that  I  can  ffind, 

Ellen,  mnst  goo  with  mee."  ^ 
"  &  ener  I  pray  yon,  Child  watters, 

yoi*r  fifootpage  let  me  bee  !  " 


*  n.— P. 

'  Only  one  stroke  for  tho  m. — F. 
mi  no. —  P. 

*  Then  take.— i?e/. 

*  lyo.— P. 

*  thiuo  ee. — i?«/. 


•  far  into. — P. 
bo  ^  The  lidiques  inserta : 

Though  I  am  not  that  ladye  fiiyr^, 

Yet  let  me  go  with  thee. — ^F. 
Tho*  I  am  not  that  favre  Lady, 
Yet  let  me  go  with  thee. — P. 


CHILDE  WATEB8. 


273 


16 


40 


44 


4M 


S3 


5f. 


ffO 


"  if  you  will  my  ffootpage  bo,  Ellen, 

u  you  doo  tell  itt  mee, 
then  yon  must  cntt  your  g^wnne  of  greene 

an  inche  abone  yotir  knee  ; 

*'  see  mast  yon  doe  yofir  yellow  lockos, 

another  inch  '  aboue  your  eye ; 
yon  moBt  tell  noe  man  what  is  my  name ; 

my  fibotpago  then  yon  shall  bee.*' 

all  this  '  long  day  Child  waters  rode, 
shee  ran  bare  ffoote  '  by  his  side  ; 

yett  was  he  nener  soo  corteons  a  Knu^ht^ 
to  say,  "  Ellen,  will  yon  ryde  f  " 

but  all  this  day  Child  waters  rode, 
shee  ran  *  barfibote  thorow  the  broomo  ! 

yett  he  was  *  neuer  soe  curteous  a  Knight 
as  to  say,  '*  put  on  yotir  shoone.** 

'*  nde  sofllye,**  shee  said,^  "  Child  watters  ; 

why  doe  you  lyde  soe  fRkst  ? 
the  child,  wAi'ch  is  no  mans  but  yours,' 

my  bo<lyc  itt  will  burst.*  ** 

ho  sayofi,*  "  bcos  thou  yonder  *®  water,  Ellen, 
thni  fflowes  from  banke  to  brim  ?  *' 

"  I  tnmt  to  god,  Child  vraterH,"  shoo  said,'* 
**you  will  neuer  *'  see  mee  swime.** 

but  when  shee  came  to  the  waters  side, 

nhcH?  Nivled  to  the  Chinne  : 
**exo*'pt  the  **  Ijonl  of  heauen  be  mj  speed, 

now  muHt  I  '•  leamo  to  swime.** 


He 


if  »he*U  cnt 
hMTgown 


•ndludr. 


Shermia 
baraTooiby 


andajthro' 
thebroon. 


RktovrfUjr, 


bcr 


•  an  iwh.— P. 

»  *»h«*^  «1I  fhr      ffri.  ami  emit*  *»his' ' 
rt  •*.♦   r.«  It  Iin«-  —  K. 

•  >h«  ail  thr  loot: .la>- (that)  Ch. Wat. 
n«!-  .  ran  }^r>ftnA.     V. 

•  Hhr  .11  Me  Ioih;  iUjVh.  W.  rwlr. 

Han      !• 


»  wa*  h«».— P.  •  O.—P. 

'  Ihinr— P.  •  l.mat.  — P. 

•  Wvv  nnMh—Kf4.  *•  Towl.  —  P. 

"   I    lni*t    in    O0.I    O   Child  Watrm. 
—/iri.         •«  youll  nrrer.— P.    o«>C.-    P. 
••  but  thf* -~P.    Nuw  th<».— /?W.  and  P. 
••  Fur  I  mnirt.— /?#/. 


274 


CHILDE  WATEB8. 


Dwim  thrri" 
the  water. 


the  salt  waters  bare  yp  Ellens  '  clothes ; 
64         our  Ladye  bare  vpp  he[r]  chinne ; 

&  Clkild  waters  was  a  woe  man,*  good  Lori,' 
to  ssee  fairc  Ellen  swime. 


her 


&  when  slice  ouer  the  water  was, 
68         Shce  then  came  to  his  knee  : 
he  said,  "  come  hither,  ffsdre  Ellen, 
loo  yonder  what  I  sec ! 


Cpiige37»] 


ahall. 


The  fairest 
l^rl  there  ii 
his  bride, 


his  para- 
mour. 

Elleu 


wlKhm  him 
ami  his  bride 
God  fcixrcd. 


76 


80 


"  seest  thon  not  yonder  hall,  Ellen  P 
of  redd  gold  shine  the  yates  ^  ; 

thercs  24  ffayre  ladyes,* 

the  fifairest  is  my  wordlye  make.® 

"  Sccst  thon  not  yonder  hall,  Ellen  P 
of  redd  gold  shineth  the  tower ; 

tlicrc  is  ^  24  ffaire  Ladyes,^ 
the  fairest  is  my  paramonre.*' 

'*  I  doe  see  the  hall  now.  Child  waters, 
that  of  redd  gold  shineth  the  yates.* 

god  giue  ^®  good  then  of  yoi«r  selfe, 
&  of  joiiT  wordlye  make  *' ! 


*'  I  doe  see  the  hall  now,  Child  waters, 
84         that  of  redd  gold  shineth  the  tower, 
god  giue  ^^  good  thon  of  jout  selfe 
and  of  yowr  paramonre !  " 


'  her.— 7?c/. 

'  i.  0.  a  "woeful  man. — P. 
'  Ch.  W.  waa  a  woo  man  good  Lord. 
-P. 

*  Hhines  [the]  gate. — P. 

*  Of  twenty  fouro  fay  re  ladycs  there. 
— 7?f/.    of.— P. 

■  mate :  so  the  rhyme  seoms  to  require, 
but  Make  Rignifies  idso  a  Mate,  matdi,  or 
equal,  a  familiar  companion,  from  A.-S. 


maca,  gtniaea,  par,  aocias,  ecnmiz.  yv^ 
Jun.  Gloss.  SuL  Voc. — P.  Bd.  oinitf 
'  wordlye.*— F. 

'  There  are  ....  thei«.— P. 

•  Rd.  adds  *  there.*— F. 
ite.— P. 


*•  [insert]  you. — P. 
"  worthy  mate. — ^P. 
'*  [insert]  you. — ^P. 


CHILDE   WATKB8. 


275 


there  were  24  Ladjes,' 
88        were  *  playing  at  the  ball ; 
&  Ellen  was  *  the  flairest  Ladye/ 
most  bring  his  steed  to  the  stall. 


She  sublet 
his 


there  were  24  faire  Ladyes  * 
0]|        was  *  playing  att  the  Chesse ; 

&  Ellen  shee  was'  the  fiairest  Ladye/ 
most  bring  his  horsse  to  grasse. 

&  then  bespako  Child  waters  sister, 
V6        &  '  these  were  the  words  said  shee ; 

'*  you  hane  the  prettyest  fibotpage,  brother, 
thai  ener  I  saw  *®  with  mine  eye, 


aoduksiit 
to 


llifl 


MkMthtA 

bkfootpafw 


'*  but  thai  his  belly  it  is  soe  bigg, 
loo        his  girdle  goes  >'  wonderous  hye  ; 
&  ener  I  pray  yon.  Child  waters, 

let  him  goe  into  the  Chamber  with  mee.**  ** 

''^^  it  is  more  meete  for  a  htle  fibotpage 
ii>4        thai  has  run  through  mosse  and  mire, 

to  take  hiH  supper  ^'pon  his  knee 
&  Hitt  downc  **  by  the  kitchin  fycr, 

then  to  goe  into  the  chamber  with  any  Ladye 
inn        that  weart'S  8cm»  [rich]  attyro.'*  " 


majgolo 
hffr  roon 

withlMT. 


Chlkto 
WftUTBMijra 
the  page  tiad 

tirticr  nap 
hjrtbe 
kitchen  ftrr. 


«-■•:•  —  F  Th**n'  w#Ti  24  fnirr  Ididivn 
ft**r*  r  Tli^n-  twii.ty  four  Udyiii 
w-r^       AV/. 

«  A  -//'/.    A.-r. 

•  thAt  w»*.  Qa.  -I*. 

•  I*    K*'«  wnttrn  tJkrrt  «t   ih.    tml. 
}        li'i   '.mit*  •  wrrc.* 

•  >       I*. 

■  'iAt  w*».  Qn      P. 

•  •  \m  f*%  rr«l  Uilye  xYirTr.  — lift . 

•  />/  'JcniU  ^k.     F. 

•  1  <li.l  s^.     P      I  i\M\%^.--Hri 


II 


is. -P. 

"  in  my  chamber  lie.-  P. 

"  IVn7  turns  the  Ust  two  linrs  into 
Another  staDsa,  and  prffixt^  it  to  the 
fimt  four :  — 

It  i«  not  At  for  a  little  foot  pAge 

That    ha<i    run    through    moMo    and 
njyre. 

To  Itf  in  the  chamU'r  of  any  ladjr 
That  » tares  tue  riche  attyrr. 


"Awl  lye.— /?W. 
'»  rich  a'ttjn*.  Qu. 


P 


276 


CHILDE  WATBII& 


Be 


EUm 


but  when  the  had  sapped  eaeiy  one, 

to  bedd  they  tooke  they  '  way ; 
he  sayd,  "  come  hither,  my  Htle  footpage, 
1 1S       hearken  what  I  doe  say ! 


to  hire  a 
prmtftnte 
for  him 


mnAcarry 
bcT  op  to 
him. 


EUen 


hires  the 
woman 


lUMlcarriM 
her  np. 


and  Afiluto 
lie  at  hiB 
bod-foot. 


At  daybreak 


Cbildo 
Waters 
orden  Ellen 
to  food  his 
steed. 


'*  &  goe  thy  downe  into  '  yonder  towne, 

&  low  into  the  street ; 
the  fiarest  Ladye  that  thon  can  find, 
116       hyer  her  in  mine  armes  to  sleepe, 
A  take  her  vp  in  thine  armes  2  * 

for  filinge  *  of  her  fieete." 

Ellen  is  gone  into  the  towne, 
ISO       &  low  into  the  streete : 

the  fairest  Ladyo  that  shee  cold  find, 
shee  hyred  in  his  armes  to  sleepe, 

&  tooke  her  in  her  armes  2 
124       for  filing  of  her  fieete. 

"  I  pray  yon  now,  good  Child  waters, 

thai  I  may  creepe  in  att  yofir  bedds  feete ; ' 
for  there  is  noe  place  about  this  honse 
128       where  I  may  say  *  a  sleepe." 

^  this,  A  itt  drone  now  affterward  • 

till  itt  was  neere  the  day : 
ho  sayd,  ''  rise  vp,  my  litle  fibote  page, 
132       &  giue  my  steed  come  &  hay ; 

&  soe  doe  thou  '  the  good  blacke  oates, 

thai  he  may  carry  me  the  '®  better  away.** 


•  their.— P.    they  -  the.— F. 

•  theo  into. — P.  thee  downe  into. 
—lid. 

■  twaino. — Rel, 

•  i.  e.  for  fear  of  defiling. — P. 

•  Lot  mo  lie  at  your  feet. — P.  Let 
mo  lye  at  your  feete. — Rd, 

•  Vide  Liffe  &  Death.  Pag.  384, 
lin.  36 ;  pag.  890,  lin.  453  [of  MS.]— P. 
8ay=oway,  try. — F. 


'  In  the  Rdique$  a  stanat  ia  made  of 
the  next  two  lines : — 
He  gave  her  leave,  and  fitire  "Rll^wi 

Bown  at  his  beds  feet  Icje : 
This  done  the  nighte  diore  on  a  pace, 

And  when  it  was  neare  the  daja.— F. 

*  This  done^  the  night  drore  on  wgMot. 

'  And  give  him  nowe. — B§1» 
'•  To  carry  mee,—JRel. 


OHILDS  WATBB8. 


277 


And  yp  then  rose  *  ffaire  Ellen,  [ph*  s7«] 

136       A  gane  *  Iub  steed  come  &  hay, 

&  8oe  shee  did  on  *  the  good  blaoke  oates, 
thai  he  might  carry  him  the  better  ^ 


Bhee  lajned  *  her  backe  to  the  Manger  side, 
I40       A  greiuooslje  did  groane ;  * 
A  thai  beheard  his  mother  deere, 
and  '  heard  her  make  her  moane. 

shee  said,  **  rise  vp,  thoa  Child  waters ! 
144       I  thinko  thoa  art  a  *  cursed  man  ; 

for  yonder  is  a  ghost  in  thy  *  stable 
thai  greinooslye  doth  groane, 

or  else  some  woman  laboares  of '®  child, 
MS       shee  is  soe  woe  begone !  ** 

but  vp  then  rose  Child  waters,** 

&  did  on  his  shirt  of  silke ; 
then  he  put  on  his  **  other  clothes 
I5S       on  his  body  as  white  as  milke. 

A  when  he  came  to  the  stable  dore, 

fiill  still  thai  hee  did  >'  stand, 
thai  hoc  might  heare  now  faire  Ellen, 
154        how  shee  made  her  monand*^  : 

shcc  said,  '*  lallabyo,  my  '*  ownc  deero  child ! 

lallabyo,  decrc  child,  decre  ! 
I  wold  thy  father  were  a  king, 
160        thy  mother  layd  on  a  becro ! 


•  (ia»«t]  Ihr.- P.  •  toffiT*-.  — p. 

•  to  cmrry  him  ih*  Ul.— P. 
'  IcaimJ-P. 

•  Tb«  H*i%q%us  xtumtXM  Aod  •Xxcr%  that : 
i*hm  U«o«^  her  back  to  th(>  maogrr  tide 

AimJ  thcrv  thtv  in*de  hi-r  mcNUM*, 
A»i  that  bvhituti  hit  in<xhOT  drAre, 

hlir«'  h«*rd  h»r  '  voeful  wiir ; ' 
ifh^  m^,  KiM-  up.  thutt  ChUde  WftOri. 

Aad  lAlo  Xhj  lUbW  gor.^F. 


8h«do«it, 


hot  gntnu^^ 
for  Imt  pain* 


Chlkto 
Waten't 


MkUmlo 

S«»B|»t 


Uiwe'ta 
giMMliahli 


ora 

in  labour. 


Ha 


gocato  Um 
■table, 

and  bean 
mtao 


to  bar 


riafl 
cbUd 


wooldtbai 
bUfatbcr 
were  a  kiaf , 

•fatdMMll 


'  .he.— P. 

•  thr«a,— P. 

•  thr.-P. 

"  'touo*  is  written  at  the  end  by  P. 
F. 

»  and  •(>  he  did  hia.— P. 
••  thert.  did  he.— P. 
**  monaiid,  is  tiKjaninf,  i.  e.  moan.  Lyv. 

•*  mine.— i^W. 


278 


CHILDE  WATERS. 


Childfl 

Watcre 

promises 

to  marr}- 
her. 


161 


''  peace  now,"  he  said,  '*  good  £ure  Ellen  ! 

&  be  of  good  cheere,  I  thee  praj ; 
&  the  Bridall,  &  the  churching  both, 

they  *  shall  bee  vpon  one  day."* 

fBns. 


'  Bel.  omits  thoy.—  F. 

'  In  tho  admimtion  bcHtowed  on  fair 
Ellen,  Enid,  and  patient  Grisild,  it  is 
doubtful  whether  diugUHt  and  indignation 
at  their  friends'  conduct  have  been  suf- 


ficiently expressed  or  felt.  Anythinff 
more  deliberately  brutal,  I  find  it  hara 
to  oonceive.  "  Cursed  man "  is  surely 
an  epithet  well  deserved  here. — F. 


Perhaps  the  most  poetical  and  finest 
version  of  this  poem  is  to  be  found  in 
Burger's  melodious  German  ballad,  en- 
title Crraf  Walter,  which  he  professes  to 
have  made  nach  dent  Alt-englUchtn,  and 
which  follows  Percy's  emtion  pretty 
closely.  He  has  made  it  into  a  verpr 
pleasing  poem,  having  paraphrased  it 
after  his  own  fashion  with  great  artistic 
skill. 

Biiigor  concludes  thus : 

*'  Snmmt  deinem  Vntcr  schroibo  Oott 
Dich  in  sein  ScgoiiBbuch  ! 
Word*  ihm  und  dir  oin  Purpurklcid, 
Und  mir  cin  Leiclientuch  I " 


(( 


0  nun,  0  nun,  suss,  rosse  Maid, 
Siiss,  siisse  Maid,  halt  ein  I 

Mein  Busen  ist  ja  nicht  von  Eis, 
Und  nicht  von  Mannelstein. 


"  0  nun,  0  nun,  suss,  snsse  Maid, 
Siiss,  susse  Maid,  halt  ein ! 
Es  soil  ja  Tauf '  und  Hochzeit  nnn 
In  einer  Stonde  sein." 

He  has  also  translated  "  King  John  and 
the  Abbot  of  Canterbury"  as  Der  Kaiter 
und  d^  Aht,  and  *<  The  Child  of  Elle" 
as  IHe  Enifihrung, — Skeat. 


279 


Thbeb  are  copies  of  this  ballad  in  the  Roxburghe  and  the  Bagford 
(Tollections,  and  in  the  Collection  of  Old  Ballads.  It  is  printed 
in  the  Reliques  chiefly  from  the  Folio  MS.  ^^  compared  with  two 
ancient  printed  copies.*^  It  appears  in  numberless  recent  collec- 
tions, as  Profewor  Cbild\  Mr.  BelFs  BalUuls  of  the  PeciBantry^ 
Mr.  Dixon^s  Ancient  Poans^  Ballads  and  Songs  of  the  Peasantry 
of  England.  The  Folio  copy,  differing  slightly  from  the  current 
one«i,  is  here  printed  faithfully  for  the  first  time ;  for  the  editor 
of  the  Reliques  seems  to  have  thought  that  to  him  too,  as  to 
painters  and  poets, 

Qnkllibei  aiad«odi  lemper  ttnt  Kqoa  potettas, 

and  freely  used  his  license  in  the  case  of  this  ballad.  He  was 
offended  by  the  **  absurdities  and  inconsistencies  ^  of  the  old  ver- 
fiion,  **  which  so  remarkably  prevailed  ^  in  that  part  of  the  song 
where  the  Beggar  discovers  himself.  These  were,  we  suppose,  that 
a  Muntfort  should  be  spoken  of  as  serving  in  the  wars, 

Whco  fimt  our  Kini;  hii  fame  did  adrance 
And  fought  for  hit  tide  in  delicate  France, 

and  then  that  the  blinded  soldier,  when  at  last  begot  back  to  his 
ci>untr}*,  Hhould  resign  himself  to  a  beggar*s  life  instead  of  at 
once  declaring  himself  and  appealing  to  the  royal  bounty,  if  he 
waA  po»^seKl^i  of  no  estate  to  support  him.  There  seemed  no 
liopie  of  curing  Much  grievous  deformities  as  these ;  so  the  whole 
limb  wiui  Iop(H'd  off,  and  a  new  one  substituted,  manufactured 
by  KoU-rt  I)*Hl»ley,  author  of  The  Economy  of  Human  Life, 
Kight  new  stanzas  were  tiubstituted.     ^  By  the  alteration  of  a 

I;<  the  pnnt«^l  collrctioo  of  Old  BaUada,  1726.     Vol.  2.  p.  202.  N.  U.  —  V. 


280  BESSIE  OFF  BEDNALL. 

few  lines,"  says  Percy, "  the  story  is  rendered  much  more  affecting, 
and  is  reconciled  to  probability  and  true  history.''  Let  those  who 
think  it  profitable  or  possible  to  bring  about  such  a  reconciliar 
tion  be  thankful.  The  copy  as  now  at  last  reproduced  gives  one 
stanza  (vv.  228-32)  not  found  in  the  ordinary  versions. 

The  ballad  was  certainly  not  written  later  than  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's reign ;  for,  as  Percy  points  out,  Mary  Ainhree  was  sung  to 
the  tune  of  it.  One  reason  for  which  Percy  attributes  it  to  that 
reign  seems  odd — because  the  ^^  Queen's  Arms "  are  mentioned 
in  V.  23  I 

It  was  an  extremely  popular  ballad,  and  no  wonder.  **  This 
very  house,"  writes  Pepys  in  his  Diary,  June  25,  1663,  of  Sir  W. 
Bider's  place  at  Bethnal  Green,  ^'  was  built  by  the  blind  Beggar 
of  Bednall  Green,  so  much  talked  of  and  sang  in  ballads ;  but 
they  say  it  was  only  some  outhouses  of  it%"  {apiul  Mr.  Chappell's 
Popular  Music  of  the  Olden  Tinnej  where  the  tune  is  given.) 
The  story  is  pretty,  and  is  told  unaffectedly.  Each  part  has  its 
own  surprise :  the  one  revealing  the  wealth,  the  other  the  high 
birth  of  the  Beggar.  These  cUiiouemeiila  are  not  supremely 
noble ;  but  they  are  such  as  please  the  crowd.  Such  sudden 
reverses  are  always  delightful.  But  what  a  bathos  it  would 
seem  if,  in  the  ballad  of  King  Cophetua,  the  Beggar-maid  should 
turn  out  to  be  a  disguised  Princess,  or  the  village  maiden,  whom 
the  Lord  of  Burleigh  in  Mr.  Tennyson's  poem  leads  home,  a  Lady 
of  title  I  The  present  ballad  is  not  satisfied  to  represent  Bessie 
as  "  pleasant  and  bright,"  **  of  favours  most  fair,"  **  courteous."  It 
crowns  her  with  vulgarer  honours — showers  riches  on  her,  and 
proves  her  of  high  lineage. 


Regium  certe  gonus  ot  penutcs 

Mceret  iniquos. 
Crede  non  illam  tibi  do  Bcelc&ta 
Plobe  dilcctam. 


BE88IB   OrP   B£DIfALL. 


281 


iTT  wms  a  blind  beggar  that  long  lost  his  sight, 
he  had  a  faire  daughter  both  pleasant  &  bright, 
&  manj  a  gallant  braoe  sntor  had  shee, 
4    for  none  was  soe  comelye  as  prettj  Bessje. 


And  tho  shee  was  of  flavor  most  faire, 
jett  seeing  shee  was  but  a  beggars  heyre, 
of  ancjent  hooskeepers  despised  was  shee, 
a    whose  sonnes  came  as  sntors  to  prettje  Bessye. 

Wherefore  in  g^reat  sorrow  faire  Bessj  did  saj, 
**  good  flather  Sl  mother,  let  me  goe  away 
to  seeke  out  mj  fortune,  where  euer  itt  be.*' 
IS    this  sate  then  thej  granted  to  prettj  Bessye. 

Then  Bessje  thai  was  of  bewtje  soe  bright, 
ihej  cladd  in  gray  mssett,  &  late  in  the  night 
wi'th  teares  shee  lamented  her  destinye ; 
IS    soe  sadd  A  soe  beany  was  pretty  Bessye. 

Shee  went  tiU  shee  came  to  Stratford  the  bow, 
then  knew  shee  not  whither  nor  wAi'ch  way  to  goe ; 
ffrom  (father  &  mother  alone  p<irto<l  shee, 
j«>    who  bighed  &  Hobbed  for  pretty  Bessye. 

Shw  kc»pt  on  her  lounioy  till  it  was  day, 
Si  went  vnto  Kaniford  alon^  the  hyo  way, 
^  att  the  (^uiH>neM  amies  entortaineil  was  shee, 
14    soe  faire  &,  welfavoured  was  prt'tty  Bessye. 

Shee  liad  not  bcene  there  a  month  to  an  End, 
but  }Aa»t*  r  A  Mi'Wr»'i*s,  and  nil,  wort»  her  ffreind ; 
A  vnvry  brauc*  pliant  tfoii  once  did  her  see, 
%•     waji  btraight-wuy  in  lone  with  pn*tty  Ik^ssye. 

(ireat  ^ifts  thry  did  giue  her  of  siluer  A  jrold, 
d  III  their  soii|^ni  daylye  her  loue  was  extold  ; 
lu-r  limwtye  was  blessed  in  euery  dc»j^»e, 
33    Mie  faire  &  sue  comlye  was  pretty  Bessye. 

▼OL.  II.  V 


A  bUnd 
bctptmrhad 
afair 
dans^ter. 


H< 

holders 

d«|iiaHlhflr, 


lift  bar 


walktto 
Strattad. 


»topi  at  Um 

Arm*, 
Ramfoit!, 


and  all  th<» 
irallanU  Ml 
In  love  with 
her. 


Miilt  of  her 


282 


BESSIE   OFF   BEDNALL. 


and  did  her 
bidding. 


Fonr  snlton 
sue  her : 


1.  a  rich 
London 
Merchant, 

2.  aQcntlo- 
man. 


3.  aKnlgfat, 


4.  tho  Land- 
lady'RPon, 
who  will  dio 
for  her. 


The  Knight 
will  make 
her  a  lady ; 


the  Gentle- 
man will 
clotlic  her  in 
velvet ; 


the 

lil(*n.'hant 
will  jrlvc  her 
jeweli*. 


Bcfisy  refers 
them  to  her 
father. 


The  young  men  of  Rumford  in  her  had  their  lojf 
shco  showed  hersefib  curteouB,  &  neuer  to  coye ; 
and  att  her  commandement  wold  they  [ever]  bee, 
36    soe  ifayre  and  soe  comly  was  pretty  Bessye. 

ffowre  Enters  att  once  th6  ynto  her  did  goe,      tpafes^T] 
the  craved  her  ifayor,  bnt  still  shee  sayd  noe ; 
''  I  wold  not  wish  gentlemen  many  mth  mee :  " 
40    yett  euer  th6  honored  pretty  Bessye. 

A  merchant  of  London,  whose  wealth  was  not  small, 
was  there  the  (first  sntor,  A  proper  wtth-all ; 
tho  2^.  a  gentcleman  of  good  degree, 
44    who  wooed  &  sued  ffor  pretty  Bessye ; 

Tho  3*1  of  them  was  a  gallant  young  Knight, 
&  ho  came  vnto  her  disguised  in  the  night ; 
her  Mi^/rc^s  owne  sonno  the  4.  man  must  bee, 
48    who  swore  ho  wold  dye  ffor  prefcty  Bessye. 

"  And  if  thou  wilt  wedd  with  me,"  quoth  the  Knight, 
*'  He  make  thee  a  Ladye  with  loy  [luid]  delight ; 
my  hart  is  inthi*alled  by  thy  bowtye  ! 
62    then  grant  me  thy  ffavor,  my  pretty  Bessye  !  " 


The  gentleman  sayd,  **  marry  with  mee ; 
in  silke  &  in  vcluett  my  bessye  shalbee  ; 
my  hart  lyes  distressed;  O  helpe  me !  "  quoth  bee, 
56    "  &  grant  me  thy  Loue,  thou  pretty  Besqre !  " 

*'  Let  mo  bee  thy  husband !  "  the  Merchant  cold  say, 
'*  thou  shalt  line  in  London  both  gallant  A  gay ; 
my  sliippcs  shall  bring  home  rych  lewells  fiir  thee; 
60    &  I  will  ffor  euer  loue  pretty  Bessye." 

Then  Bessye  shoe  sighed,  &  thus  shee  did  say, 
"  my  ffather  &  mother  I  meane  to  obey ; 
ffirst  gett  their  good  will,  &  be  ffaithfull  to  me, 
64    &  you  shall  enioye  jout  prottyo  Bessye." 


BESSIE  OFF  BEDMALL.  283 

To  enerj  one  this  answer  shee  made, 
wherfore  Tnto  her  thej  lojffollye  sayd, 

'*  ihiA  thing  to  ffulfill  wee  doe  all  agree  ;  Who  b  b*  r 

M    &  where  dwells  thj  ffather,  my  pretty  Bessy  P  " 

**  My  fiather/*  shoe  said,  "  is  soone  to  be  seene ;  The  mind 

he  is  the  blind  beg^gar  of  BednaU  gpreene, 
thai  day  lye  sitts  begg^ing  fibr  charitye  ; 
7S    he  is  the  good  fiather  of  pretty  Bessye ; 


OrMoe, 


**  his  markes  &  his  tokens  axe  knowen  flPoll  well,  led  bj  a  dog 

he  alwayes  is  led  with  a  dogg  and  a  bell ; 
a  silly  blind  man,  god  knowoth,  is  hee, 
7f    yctt  hee  is  the  good  fiather  of  pretty  Bessye.** 

"  Nay  then/*  quoth  the  Merchant,  **  thoa  art  not  for  The 

Merdumi, 

mee! 

"  nor/'  quoth  the  Inholder,  "  my  Wiffe  thon  shalt  bee !  **  lankeep*. 

'*  I  lothe,**  sayd  the  gentleman,  "  a  beggars  degree ;  aod  OeoUe- 

so    theriTore,  flarwell,  my  pretty  Bessye  !  **  mwn  aj  oo. 

**  Why  then,*'  quoth  the  knight,  '*  hap  better  or  worsse,  Bat  the 
I  way  not  true  lone  by  the  waight  of  my  porsse, 
A  bewtye  is  bewtye  in  enery  degree, 
M     then  welcome  to  me,  my  pretty  Bi*«8ye  !  heU  here 


**  W/th  thee  to  thy  fiather  fi\)rth  will  I  goo." 
**  nay  M>fi\,**  qtioth  liiM  kinHman,  **  itt  most  not  bo  soe ;   HUktn 
a  iH^iTK^m  daughter  noe  Ladye  HhallK* ; 
»•    iherfore  take  thy  due  [leaue]  of  pretty  Bessye.*' 

But  noone  aflor  thin,  by  breake  of  the  day,  imt  hm 

the  knight  fi*n)m  Rumfi()ni  Kt4jle  Bi'HHye  away.  hemy. 

the  yoonge  men  of  Rumfitird,  tm  thicke  as  might  bee,     Tb#Raia- 

fold  nwn 
f2     rode  aflV'r  to  fieiteh  againe  pretty  BeHnye  ; 

As  nwifl  as  th€»y  winde  to  ryd  they  were  seene 

vntill  tliey  came  to  Iknlnall  grei*ne  ;  o^rrtake 

A  an  the  knight  lighted  most  curtcouslye, 

M    the  flboght  against  him  for  pretty  Bessye  ; 

V  2 


284 


BES8IE   OFF  BEDNALL. 


bat  be  b 
rewnud. 


Tfac  Blind 
Beggar 


offent  to 
give  hi^  girl 
«a  mach 
gold  u  the 
Knight's 
kinwUl. 


But  rcscew  speedilye  came  on  the  plaine, 
or  else  the  young  knight  fibr  his  lone  had  beene  slauie. 
this  firay  being  ended,  then  straight  he  did  see 
100    his  kinsman  came  rayling  against  pretty  Bessye. 

Then  spake  the  blind  Beggar,  "  althoe  I  be  poore, 
yett  rayle  not  against  my  child  at  my  dore ; 
thoc  shec  be  not  decked  in  veluett  &  pearle, 
104   yett  will  I  dropp  angells  with  yon  for  my  girle ; 

"  And  then  if  my  gold  may  better  her  birthe, 
&  eqnall  the  gold  yon  lay  on  the  earth, 
then  ncyther  rayle,  nor  gmdge  yon  to  see 
108    the  blind  beggars  daughter  a  Lady  to  bee. 


[piige278] 


C( 


Agreed. 


ThoBoggar 
layn  down 
muffvU 
fttfAinst  the 
Knighi'a 


Butt  ffirst  I  will  heare,  &  haue  itt  well  Knowen, 
the  gold  that  you  drop  shall  all  be  yotcr  owne." 
w/th  tJuit  they  rcplyed,  "  contented  wee  bee." 
112    "  then  here  is,"  qttt^th  the  Beggar,  "flTor  pretty  Besflje." 

With  that  an  angcU  he  dropped  on  the  ground, 
&  dropped  in  angells  5004 
&  oftentimes  itt  was  proued  most  plaine, 
116   fibr  the  gcntlcmans  one  the  beggar  dropt  twayne, 

Soe  tluit  the  place  wherin  th6  did  sitt, 

w/th  gold  was  couered  euery  whitt. 
till  the  the  gentleman  hauing  dropped  all  his  store, 

iBgono,         120   said,  "  Beggar,  hold  !  for  wee  haue  noe  more. 


"  Thou  hast  ffulfilled  thy  promise  arright." 
"  then  marry,"  quoth  hee,  "  my  girle  to  this  Kni^At; 
&  heere,"  qiwth  hee,  "Be  throw  you  downe 
124    a  100"  more  to  buy  her  a  gowne." 


ami  then 
gIvcH  100/. 
more. 


The  gentleman  that  all  this  treasure  had  scene, 
admired  the  beggar  of  Bcdnall  greene, 
&  those  that  were  her  sutors  before, 
128    theii'  fflesh  for  verry  anger  they  tore. 


BESSIE  Orr  BEDNALL. 


285 


Then  was  fikire  Bessje  mached  to  the  knight, 
&  made  a  Ladje  in  others  despite ; 
a  fl^urer  Ladyo  was  neaer  seene 
las    then  the  Beggars  daoghtcr  of  Bednall  gree[ne]. 

But  of  their  snmptuos  marriage  &  fieast, 
A  what  braue  Lords  &  Knights  thither  we[r]e  prest, 
the  2*.  ffitt  sliall  sett  to  sight, 
196   with  mikmeiloas  pleasure  &  wished  delight. 


SofftirBeMj 


•Ddru 

teUyooftU 
•bout  the 
ManiafeiA 
FluU. 


140 


UpMto' 


144 


[Part  II.] 

Off  a  blind  beggars  daughter  most  bright, 
tkai  late  wan  betrothed  mto  a  jounge  Knight, 
all  the  discourse  ther-of  jou  did  see  : 
but  now  comes  the  wedding  of  pretty  Bes[sje]. 

wi'thin  a  gallant  pallacc  most  braue, 
adorned  with  all  the  cost  the  cold  haue, 
this  wedding  was  kept  most  sumptuouslj, 
&  all  ffor  the  crcditt  of  pretty  Bessye. 


TlMweddiac 


Ubcidia 
apalMK, 


All  kind  of  daintjen  A  delicat<'s  swceto 
wan  brought  (Tor  the  bancjuett,  as  it  most  mee[t], 
PartridjTf,  plouer,  A  venison  most  ITret', 
us    agmixist  the  braue  weilding  of  prt'tty  licHsye. 

This    marrynj^    through    England    was    8p[r]ead    by 

n'i>or;t\ 
soe  tliat  a  ^n^tit  namlxT  therto  did  resort 
of  nobles  A  gentles  in  euery  dcj^rtf  ; 
I5X    A  all  was  ffor  the  ffame  of  pretty  lk*H«(yc. 

To  church  then  went  this  gallant  younpo  knight ; 
h  i'«  bride  ffollowed,  an  angell  niont  bright. 
With  tn>op«i  of  liadyes,  the  like  were  neu»'r  uc^ene 
154    as  went  with  Sweet  Bessye  of  Bednall  greene. 


and  a  ffraad 
banquet  U 


Noblfti  and 

frntkeoomt 

Uilt. 


follow 


286 


BESSIE  OFF  BEDNALL. 


AftCTthe 
marriAge, 


comes  the 

fCMt, 


This  manyago  being  solempnized  then 
with  mnsickc  pcrfonrmed  by  ihe  BlrillfalleBt  men, 
the  Nobles  &  gentles  sate  downe  at  that  tyde, 
160    each  one  beholding  the  beantifhll  bryde. 


But  after  the  samptuons  dinner  was  done, 
to  talke  &  to  reason  a  number  begonn 
of  the  blind  Beggars  daughter  most  bright^ 
164   &  what  with  his  daughter  he  gaue  to  the  Knight. 


and  then 
the  IfafTgar 
la  trnkcd 
for. 


Then  spake  the  Nobles,  ''  most  marueill  haue  wee, 
this  lollj  blind  beggar  wee  cannott  here  see." 
''  my  Lore/,"  said  the  Bride,  '*  my  father  is  soe  base, 
168   he  is  loth  bj  his  presence  these  states  ^  to  disgrace ; 


''  The  praysc  of  a  woman  in  questjon  to  bringe^ 
before  her  ffaco  heere,  wore  a  flattering  thing." 
"  wee  thinkc  thy  ifathors  basenesse,"  quoth  they. 


Besfly'8 

beauty  pats 

away  hin       172    "  might  by  thy  bcwtyo  be  cleane  put  awaye." 


Rotho 
Boffgar 
comes  in 


They  had  noe  sooner  these  pleasant  words  spoke, 
but  in  comes  the  beggar  cladd  in  a  silke  cote, 
a  velluett  capp  and  a  Aether  had  hee, 
176    &  now  a  Musityan  fforsooth  hee  wold  bee ; 


TV  ith  a  Iut«, 


And  being  led  in,  fibr  catching  of  harme  bi«en] 

he  had  a  daintyo  Lute  ynder  his  arme, 
saies,  "  please  you  to  heare  any  Musicke  of  mee  P 
180   Ho  sing  you  [a]  song  of  pretty  Bessye." 


and  sings  a 
fsong  of 


With  that  his  lute  he  twanged  straight-way, 
&  there  bcgann  most  sweetlye  to  play, 
&  after  a  lesson  was  playd  2  or  3  : 
184   he  strayned  on  this  song  most  delicatelye: 


»  Nobles.— F. 


BK8SIE  OFF  BBDNALL. 


287 


"  A  Beggara  daughter  did  dwell  on  [a]  greene, 
who  flbr  her  flaire  might  well  bo  a  queene; 
a  blithe  bonnj  Lassc,  &  daintjo,  was  shee, 
188   &  manj  a  one  called  her  pretty  Bcssje.** 

''  Her  (father  hee  had  noe  goodii  nor  noe  Lands, 
bat  begd  *  for  a  penny  all  day  wtth  his  hand[8]  ; 
yett  to  her  marriage  hee  gane  thousands  3 : 
m    &  still  he  hath  some  watt  for  pretty  Bessye ; 


the  Btgnmr'i 
cUuighter, 


Pretty 
r. 


whow  father 
gmve  her 
a.000/.. 


**  And  if  any  one  her  birth  doe  disdaine, 
her  flather  is  ready  w/th  might  &  with  maine 
to  proove  shoe  is  come  of  a  Noble  degree ; 
19€   therfore  nener  fflont  att  pretty  Bessye.*' 


pror9  ahe'e 
of  noble 
birth. 


With  that  the  Lort/s  &  the  companye  round 
with  harty  Laughter  were  like  to  sound, 
att  last  said  the  Lort/s,  **  full  well  wee  may  see, 
too    the  Bride  &  the  Beggar  is  behouldingo  to  thee.* 


TheLonIi 
Uofh. 


With  that  the  Bride  all  blushing  did  rise 
w«th  the  Halt  water  w/thin  her  faire  eyes  : 
•*  ()  panlon  my  ffather,  gmue  Noblt*f»,*'  c]M/)th  shee, 
7iH    *•  /A<Jt  t borrow  blind  aflection  thus  doteth  on  mee." 


thra  to 
excuiw  her 
father't 
prmieeof  her. 


•*  If  thin  lie  thy  ffather/'  the'  noblo[8]  did  say, 
•*  well  may  he  be  pnmd  of  thin  happy  day ; 
yett  by  hiM  countenaunec  well  may  wee  see, 
ttf%    bin  birth  &  his  ffurtune  did  neutv*  agree ; 

**  And  therfor,  blind  man,  I  pray  thc»e  bewray, 
&  hioke  thtii  the  truth  thou  to  vs  doe  say, 
thy  birth  A  thy  parentage,  what  itt  may  bee, 
1 1 2    t  oen  for  tlic  loue  thou  bearest  to  pretty  Bessye. 


»» 


The  Lonlft 


the  Blind 
Iktnrar  to 
ctmn^m  who 
he  nmllj  \m. 


~F 


Tbr  y  u  m»ie  cjrer  a  (/  in  the  3^. 


'  The  e  is  nuuio  oTer  a  ^  in  the  M8. 
— F. 


288 


BESSIE  OFF  BEDNALL. 


ITe  t«I1ii 
them. 


"  Then  giuc  me  leane,  jou  Crengells '  eche  one, 
a  song  more  to  sing,  then  will  I  goe  on  ; 
&  if  that  itt'may  not  winn  good  report, 
216   then  doe  not  giae  mo  a  groat  for  my  sport. 


With  King 
Ilenry, 


"  When  ffirst  onr  King  his  fiamo  did  Advance, 
&  fought  for  Ills  title  in  delicate  ffi'ance, 
in  many  a  place  many  perills  past  hee : 
220    then  was  not  borne  my  pretty  Bessye. 


wrat  to 
Franco 
young 
Mountford. 


"  And  then  in  those  warres  went  over  to  fight 
many  a  brane  duke,  a  LortZ,  &  a  KHight^ 
&  w/th  themyounge  Monntford,  his  courage  most  free ; 
224   but  then  was  not  borne  my  pretty  Bessye. 


At  B]oi4  he 

was 

ironndod. 


"  Att  Bloyes  there  chanced  a  terrible  day, 
where  many  braue  ffrenchmen  vpon  the  g^round  Lay ; 
amongc  them  Lay  Mountford  for  companye  : 
228    but  then  was  not  borne  my  pretty  Bessye. 


loot  both 
hln  eyes, 
and  nearly 
his  life, 
but  fi>r  a 
3'onng 
woman 


who  saved 
him. 


Together 
thry  begged ; 


came  to 
Bi>dnall 
Greene, 


"But  there  did  younge  Mountford,  by  blow  on  the 

face, 
loose  both  his  eyes  in  a  very  short  space  ; 
A  alsoe  his  lifife  had  beene  gone  wtth  his  sight, 
232   had  not  a  younge  woman  come  forth  in  the  night 

"  Amongst  the  slaine  men,  as  &ncy  did  moae, 
to  search  &  to  seeke  for  her  owno  true  loue ; 
&  seeing  young  Mountford  there  gasping  to  bee, 
236    shec  saued  his  lifie  through  charitye. 

"  And  then  aU  our  vittaUs,  in  Beggars  attire  iP^m 
att  hands  of  good  people  wee  then  did  require. 
att  last  into  England,  as  now  it  is  scene, 
240    wee  came,  &  remained  att  Bednall  greene ; 


»  Gentles.— F. 


i 


BESSIE  OFF   BEONALL.  289 

*'  And  thns  wee  hane  liaed  in  fibrtanes  despite, 
tho  ^  poore,  jett  contented  with  humble  delight ; 
A  in  mj  joang  •  jecres,  a  comfort  to  bee,  and  begot 

144    god  sent  mee  mj  daughter,  pretty  Bessje. 


'*  And  thos,  noble  Lords,  mj  song  I  doe  end.  That's  tha 

hoping  the  same  noe  man  doth  ofibnd ;  ui«. 

full  4^)  winters  thus  I  haue  bcene, 
14S    a  silly  blind  beggar  of  Bednall  greene." 

Now  when  the  companye  euerye  one  Tb*  Lords 

did  hcare  the  strange  tale  in  the  song  he  had  show[n], 
thoy  were  all  amazed,  as  well  the  might  bee,  woniv. 

15  s    both  at  the  blind  beggar  &  pretty  Bessy e. 

with  /A4it  he  did  the  fayre  bride  imbrace,  tim  Bcfiw 

saying,  **  thou  art  come  of  an  honoiirablle  race  ;  tesy, 

tliy  (Tat her  likewise  of  a  highe  degree, 
1^    A  thou  art  well  worthy  a  lady  to  bee !  '* 

Thns  was  the  fleas t  ended  wi'th  loy  &  delight ; 
a  br]i\legrome  [blissful]  was  the  young  knight, 
who  liuiHl  in  loy  <!b  felicitye  sodabeaod 

1^    With  hiii  fi*aire  Ladye,  pretty  Bessy e.  Uw  kuHipiir. 

•  MS.  the-  F.  »  ?  old.— F. 


290 


[Uis  groat  atchio'cmenta  on  an  Embassy  to  ftance. — ^P.] 

This  piece  is  now  printed  from  the  Folio  for  the  first  time. 
It  is  no  very  considerable  addition  to  EDglish  literature.  It 
gives,  with  average  dulness,  a  ridiculously  bragging  account  of 
the  achievements  of  one  Sir  Hugh  Spencer  at  the  court  of 
France,  whither  he  was  dispatched  as  ambassador — a  truly 
Philistine  piece,  such  as  might  have  been  told  at  Gath  or 
published  at  Askalon.  There  does  not  seem  to  be  any  historical 
ground  for  it.  Not  even  the  most  triumphant  English  history 
of  England  contains  any  account  of  the  terrifying  a  French 
king  into  promises  of  peace  by  the  prowess  of  an  English 
ambassador,  as  here  happens  when  Spencer,  with  four  others, 
manages  to  kill  ^^  about  two  or  three  score  "  of  the  King's  guards 
(p.  295,  1.  134),  after  having  slain  ^^  13  or  14  score  on  a  previous 
occasion  (p.  294, 1.  122).  The  piece  is,  indeed,  nothing  better  than 
a  tissue  of  coarse  English  braggadocio.  An  English  "  old  hackney  ^ 
outvalues  any  one  of  a  French  knight's  war-steeds.  An  English 
stair  is  as  stout  as  three  French  spears  bound  together.  And  as 
for  an  English  man,  why  he  is  good  for  a  French  hosti  What  a 
vulgar  Philistine  was  this  ballad-monger  I 


IHE :  Court  is  kept  att  leeue  London, 
&  ouermoro  shall  be  itt ; 
The  King  the  Ki7ig  sent  for  a  bold  Embassador, 

spencer    '       4         &  S/r  Hugh  Spcncer  tJiat  he  bight. 

*  The  subject  of  this  Ballad  seems  to  be  aU-together  fabnloiu. — ^P. 


HUGH   8PKNCBS. 


291 


« 


come  hither,  Spencer/'  saith  our  Kinge, 
**  it  come  thoa  hither  vnto  meo, 
I  most  make  thee  an  Embassadonr 
betweene  the  Ktn^  of  ffrance  &  mee. 


to  go  to  Um 
KiDfof 


^  thoa  moat  comend  me  to  the  King  of  ffirance, 

A  tell  him  thoa  &  now  ffrom  mee, 
'  I  wold  know  whether  there  shold  be  peace  in  hia  land,  and  Mk  him 

wbetharbe's 

IS        or  open  warr  kept  still  moat  bee.'  forpaMoor 


^  thooat  haoe  thy  shipp  at  thy  comande, 
thoost  neither  want  for  gold  nor  ffce, 
thoojit  hane  a  100  armed  men 
U        all  att  thy  bidding  ffor  to  bee." 

they  '  wind  itt  temed,  A  they  sayled, 

A  towards  flranoe  thus  they  be  gone  ; 
thej  '  wind  did  bring  them  safe  to  shore, 
SO        A  safelye  Landed  eaerye  one. 


war. 


BPMlO0f 


land  in 


the  ffrenchmen  lay  on  the  castle  wall ' 

the  English  souldicrs  to  bc-hold  : 
"  yoa  arc  welcome,  traitors,  out  of  England  ; 
S4         the  heads  of  yon  are  bought  and  sold  !** 


wi'th  that  spake  proad  Spencer, 
**  my  Icege,  soe  itt  may  not  bee ! 

I  am  sent  an  EmbaAsador 

ffrom  our  English  King  to  yee. 


P^ 


TIm  Frmch 


crmnt  on 
Iheir  boMla. 


SpcDOOT  aaji 


from 
llwKnftiAh 

KLny 


3S 


"the  Kjm^  of  England  greetes  yon  well, 

d  liath  sent  this  word  by  mee ; 
he  wold  know  whether  there  shold  be  peace  in  your 
Land, 

or  Often  warres  kept  still  must  bee.*' 


iOMk 

K»  betbrr  It't 

to  tH>  pCttCV 

or  war. 


*  th«.~P.        *'nief^isstagstt!MefiduflhijwucdtotiMlf&— F. 


292 


HUGH  SPENCEB. 


War.  nxn 
till*  French 
King; 


tt 


Comend  mc  to  the  English  Kinge, 
&  tell  this  now  ffrom  mee ; 
There  shall  ncner  peace  be  kept  in  my  Land    cpigesn] 
36        while  open  warres  kept  there  maj  beeJ 


>f 


and  his 
Qneen 


mecnat 
him  for 
talking  to 
English 
traitors. 


40 


With  tJiat  came  downe  the  Queene  of  ffirance, 
and  an  angry  woman  then  was  shee ; 

saies,  **  itt  had  beene  as  ffitt  now  for  a  King 
to  be  in  his  chamber  with  his  ladje, 

then  to  be  pleading  with  traitors  ont  of  England 
kneeling  low  vppon  their  knee." 


Bponccr 


calls  her  a 
liar. 


But  then  bcspake  him  prond  Spencer, 
4i        for  noe  man  else  durst  speake  bat  hee  : 
''you  haue  not  wiped  your  month,  Madam, 
since  I  heard  you  tell  a  lye." 


She  dares 
him  to  fight 
her  knight. 


''  O  hold  thy  tounge,  Spencer !  "  shee  said, 
48         "  I  doe  not  come  to  plead  with  thee ; 
darest  thou  rydo  a  course  of  warr 

with  a  knight  that  I  shall  put  to  thee  P  " 


Spencer  says 
he  has 


neither 
armour  nor 
steed. 


''  but  euer  alacko  !  "  then  Spencer  sayd, 
52         "  I  thinke  I  haue  deserued  gods  cnrsse ; 
ffor  I  haue  not  any  armour  hoere, 
nor  yett  I  haue  noe  lusting  horsse." 


The  Qneen 
tells  him  he's 
too  spindle- 
shanked, 


''  thy  shankcs,"  qi^th  shee,  ''  beneath  the 
56        are  vcrry  small  abouo  the  shinne 
ffor  to  doe  any  such  honcmrablle  deeds 
as  the  Englishmen  say  thou  has  done. 


and too 

small- 

thighed 

for  a 
jonster. 


'*  thy  shankcs  beene  small  aboue  thy  shoone, 
60     .    &  soe  the  beeno  aboue  thy  knee  ; 
thou  art  to  slender  euery  way, 
any  good  luster  ffor  to  bee." 


HUGH    8PEMCER. 


293 


'*  but  eaer  alacke/*  said  Spencer  then, 
•4         **  for  one  steed  of  the  English  coontrye  !  " 
with  thai  bespake  A  one  ffrench  knight, 
this  day  thoost  haue  the  Choyoe  of  3  : " 


t« 


A  Fmch 
knifftit  often 

hilD  OfMOf 

UiTMitoeifti: 


the  first  steed  he  fieiched  oat, 
M         I-wis  he  was  milke  white. 

the  ffirst  fibot  Spencer  in  stirropp  sett,' 
his  backc  did  from  his  belly  type.' 

the  2f  steed  thai  he  fieitcht  oat, 
71         I- wis*  thai  hee  was  verry  Browne  ; 
the  2f  fibot  Spencer  in  stirropp  settt, 
thai  horsse  &  man  and  all  fiell  downe. 

the  3f  steed  thai  hee  ficitched  out, 
7€         I-wis  thai  he  was  verry  blacke  ; 

the  3f  fibote  Spencer  into  the  stirropp  sett, 
he  leaped  on  to  the  geldings  backe. 

**  but  euer  alacke,**  said  Spencer  then, 
so         **  for  <ine  jfood  steed  of  the  English  countrye  ! 
gt>e  ffeitc'h  me  hither  my  old  haciieye 

thai  I  bronght  w/th  me  hither  beyond  the  sea.*' 


1.  awhJit 


(wbOM  iMOk 


9.  •  btown 


(who 
down). 


t.  AbUck 


whleh 
Spmocr 


Imt 

calU  for  hl« 

luick, 


\mi  wlien  his  linckney  there  was  brought, 
§4  SptTicer  a  merry  man  there  wiui  lu»c ; 

sai€-ji,  **  With  the  grace  of  gml  &  St.  George  of  England,   JjJ  J^  *** 
the  fieild  thiM  day  shall  goe  with  mee  ! 


flffht  with 
him. 


**  I  liaue  not  flVirgotten,**  .spencer  »ayd, 
88  **  Hince  then»  wa«  fl'eihl  foughten  att  walMingam, 

when  the  honme  did  hi'are  the  trumpetts  sound, 
he  di<l  lx»are  orv  Inith  horsso  &  man." 


'  Thrrp  it  ft  mr\  l*twf««i  ihc  f  ami  / 

»  >  MS  tripe,  with  th*»  /  rro!u«d  at 
tr«p  t^i  dftuhi  fur  lyU,  quick] J,  or  Sr. 
tfU  to  aDAldi,  di»v  aoddral/,  Da.  t^^Jen 


to  druw,  por.  —  K. 

•  .\»  \ht>  I  r  M  it  followfd  !•}•  (hat,  it 
mar  tnoun  hrre  *  I  knuw,'  and  noC  b«  tbt 
aJrvrb  *  crrtainljr.* — F. 


294  HUGU   SPEMCER. 

Tho  joust  the  day  was  sett,  <fe  togetiher  they  mett 

92       With  great  mirtli  <fc  melodye, 

with  minstrcUs  playing  Sn  trampettB  aonndinge^ 
wi'tli  dmmes  striking  load  &  hye. 

spenoer  tho  ffirst  race  that  spencer  nuiy 

French  fii)ear    96       I-wis  hec  mn  itt  wondcrous  Boro; 

on  hia 

opponent;  he  [hit]  the  knight  vpon  his  brest, 

but  his  speare  itt  burst,  &  wold  touch  noe  more. 

arici  for  an  «<  but  cuor  alackc,"  Said  Spencer  then, 

English  one,  '  "^ 

100        ''  for  one  stafiTe  of  the  English  conntiye  ! 

Without  youle  bind  me  3  together,"  [page  s» 

quoth  hce,  "  theyle  be  to  weake  ffor  meeJ 


»i 


With  that  bespoke  him  tho  £&ench  Knight, 
104       say  OS,  "  bind  him  together  the  whole  30^, 
for  I  haue  more  stronght  in  my  to  hands 
then  is  in  all  Spencers  bodye." 

and  betfl  the  "  but  proue  att  parting,"  spencer  sayes, 

five  to  four     108        "  ffrench  Knight,  here  I  tell  itt  thee, 

he'll  beat  °      ' 

wm*  for  I  will  lay  thee  5  to  4 

the  bigger  man  I  proue  to  bee." 

So  they  joust  ^^t  the  day  was  sett,  &  together  they  mett 

*^  °'  112        with  great  mirth  &  melodye. 

With  minstrclls  playing  &  trumpetts  soundinge, 
wi'th  drummcs  strikeing  loud  &  hye. 

and  Spencer  the  2?  race  that  Spencer  run, 

116       I- wis  heo  ridd  itt  in  much  pride, 

nnhorfiC8  the  ^  ^®  ^^^^  ^^®  Knight  vpon  the  brest^ 

JiJgSj^  &  draue  him  ore  his  horsse  beside. 

but  ho  run  thorrow  the  ffrench  campe ; 
120       such  a  race  was  ncuer  run  befibre ; 
kills  about  ho  killed  of  "King  Charles  his  men 

2d0  men, 

att  hand  of  13  or  14  score. 


RVOR   9PB1ICIR.  295 

bat  he  came  becke  ftgaine  to  the  K[uig] 
IS4       A  kneeled  him  downe  vpon  hie  knee,  and  idk 

men,  **  a  knight  I  hane  siaino,  A  a  steed  I  hane  woone,  ciMri«of 
the  beet  that  is  in  this  conntiye/* 


•I 


bat  nay,  by  my  fiuth,'*  said  the 


«• 


Its       **  Spencer,  soe  itt  shall  not  bee ;  hb 

Bo  hane  that  traitors  head  of  thine 
to  enter  plea  att  my  lollye." 


bat  Spencer  looket  him  once  abont ; 
las       hehad  troebretheren  left  bat4:  ktuaftj? 

he  killed  ther  of '  the  KiM^  gard  0"«l 

abont  2  or  3  score. 


bat  hold  thy  hands,"  the  King  doth  say,  -, 

pnj9  nun 

IM       '*  Spencer!  now  I  doe  pray  thee;  to^oiVf 

A  I  will  goe  into  litle  England,  MdoAm 

vnto  tkai  crnell  Kings  with  thee.*'  Xncuad. 

*•  NaT,  by  mr  ffaith,"  Spencer  sayd,  Bp«ii»r 

144>        "  my  leoffo,  for  snc  itt  iihall  nut  bcc ; 
ftir  «in'  yon  actt  '  fibot  on  KiigliMh  ground, 
ynu  hhall  be  liangcd  vpon  a  tree.*' 

"why  tlicn,  cmnrnd  [me]  to  //i«it  Engliiih  Kingc,  Thm 

144        «V  t4>ll  him  thuH  now  ffmrn  mco, 

f/nit  thon*  fihall  ncni*i-  be  oik.ii  wam*s  kept  in  my  Land 
whili*Mt  |>cace  kept  thai  there  may  Imm*.** 

flillS. 
•  MS.  ihtnJ^  V.        •  oB-an.  ir.-F.        •  ?MS.  ttia  or  lettf.     F. 


C*htf|M 


296 


This  Adler  may  be  the  same  with  that  one  who  appears  in  the 
ballad  of  Klnj  Estmere.  As  that  ballad  narrates  the  marriage 
of  the  elder  brother  Estmere,  and  how  the  younger  Adler  as- 
sisted to  bring  it  about,  so  here  the  younger  brother's  wooing 
and  winning  arc  described,  and  bow  Estmere  promoted  them. 
Perhaps  the  lost  second  line  made  mention  of  Estmere.  There 
seems  to  be  an  error  in  the  eleventh  verse :  Estmere  there  should 
be  Ardinc.  Both  brothers  arc  somewhat  fastidious  in  their  con- 
nubial biAtes.  <*  I  know  not,"  says  Estmere  in  the  ballad  dedi- 
cated to  him  in  the  Reliques, 

**  I  know  not  that  ladjo  in  any  lande 
That  is  able  to  many  with  mee." 

And  here  Adler  insists  on  a  wife  silk-soft,  milk-white,  lithe  and 
lissome. 

In  this  ballad  the  comic  element  predominates.  The  narradve 
is  hmnoroiis,  and  so  is  the  narration.  The  piece  reads  like  a 
nursery  tale,  as  Mr.  Fumivall  suggests  in  the  note. 


King  A(iicr  iVINGE :  Adler,  as  heo  in  his  window  Lay, 

[unto  a  stranger  knight  ho  did  say,] 
"  I  wold  my  lands  they  were  as  broada 
♦     as  the  red  rose  is  in  my  garden  : 
ci.-;(Ti»>w  tiic         there  wore  not  that  woman  this  day  aline, 
wMjt8.°  ^  '^^P^  ^^  hee  my  wedded  wiffe, 

w/tliout  the  ^  were  as  white  as  any  xoilke 
8     or  as  soft  as  any  silke, 

'  Tour  btuff. — P.     No  doubt  meant  for  a  nnrsor}- tale. — ^F.  •  iheL— F- 


i 


RINOE    ADLKR. 


297 


k  they  pojall  rich  wine  ran  downc  her  brest  bone, 

&,  lord  !  shoe  were  <fc  a  Icath  *  maiden.** 

'*  bat  Eliitmerc  our  Ki'ii//  has  a  danghter  soe  jonnge ; 

15  god  Ix>rd  !  shees  an  Hofl  as  any  silke^ 
4^  a«  white  a«  any  milke, 

the  rojall  rich  wine  runes  downe  her  brest  bone, 
6l  lord  !  shce  is  a  leath  maiden.*' 

16  •*  but  will  jou  goe  vnto  King  Ardine, 

4^  will  that  fiaire  liady  thai  sheo  wilbe  mine  ?  " 

Heetooke  the  filood,  it  the  winde  was  good,   (pacessi] 

vntill  bee  came  mto  thai  Ki'n//s  hall. 
SO     he  grett  them  well  both  great  <fc  small : 

*'  Kinge  Adlcr  hath  sent  me  hither  to  thee, 

it  wills  thy  fiayre  daughter,  shee  will  his  bee/* 

he  sayes,  '*  if  King  Adler  will  my  daughter  winne, 
S4     of  another  manner  he  must  begin  : 

ilkith  he  shall  bring  Lords  to  the  Mold, 

1<»  Shipper  of  good  red  gold^ 

VP)  Shippes  of  Ladyes  on  the  monre, 
S8     1<X>  Shippes  of  wheat  boultcd  flower, 

1m  »  Ship|)es  of  Ladyes  bright, 

liMi  ShipiH^i  of  new  dubl>d  knights. 

yett  lie  Khali  tloe  //i<it  is  more  pine, 
3S     li<*  shiill  take  the  salt  sea  h  tume  itt  to  red  wine ; 

when  luH*  ha/t  done  all  theno  deinls, 

llirn  my  fiiire  dauj^hter  Khnltie  his  ; 

but  I  haue  sett  her  on  such  a  pinn,' 
M      King  Adler  shall  her  neuer  winne.** 

he  t*Mike  the  A^hmI,  A  they  wind  was  good, 

h  nvnrr  Ktayd  in  n(H*  stead 

%-ntill  he  ranie  to  Kinge  Adiers  hall. 
4o     hi*  gni-ted  them  well  lx>th  great  &,  small. 


A  ftrmnfrer 
■lyN  hU 
king  hms  th« 
dinirhm'  to 
rait  Adler. 


"  Win  you 
|o«nd  Mk 
for  her,  for 
mo?- 

Tbenum 

lOMl 

Mkt. 


Kin« 

btmervor 

Anllne 

reeoonU 
what  uhlp- 
kMHtsof 
thlnfr*  Ailkr 
mxun  fint 
brlAff  him, 


•nd  thra 
tarn  tbr 
to  ml  wi 


Adl<T*t 

mtwpg 
rrtum* 


'   l^nik.  %**fi,  •Qpt  !<".  hm\fer,  f>liant.  humour.*  ««   in  *  Each   urti  on  «  mery 

Ivcil  i«;K«htr«> .     in     ilallivrU'*     (iliA*  ptn.'  /*ryar  if  A>iytr.  1. 484,  Ln.  and  Hum. 

lu'hr       F.  S>ng«,  p.  28.— F. 

*  ?  bt^b    point,    •UtifiO.    nr    *  faoi^. 


TOL.  II. 


298 


KINGE  ADLER. 


and  gives 
him 


KfnfT 
Ki«tiinTe*rt 

thi»  Kliii>- 
loftils  he's  to 
bring  him, 


and  thm 
turn  the  wa 
into  wine. 


Adlcr  Mys 


thrty  miiKt 
dn-w  him  on 
a  woman, 
and  take  liim 
to  tho 
I'rim't-w'ii 
Cfiurt  t«» 
iMmnl  with 
her  livliiit. 


HiK 

mpts«?nirr>r 
takc.<  him, 


and  tollH 
Ki'tmonj  ho 
hoH  brou^'ht 
a  huly  to 
board  iinirmg 
biB  ladies. 


saics  "  I  hane  bcenc  att  yonder  "Kings  place 
to  H]>oukc  with  his  daughter  fajre  of  fiice ; 
lie  saycs,  if  you  will  his  daughter  winne, 

4i    of  another  manner  yoa  must  begin  : 
you  must  bring  lords  to  tho  mold, 
1(.M)  Shippcs  of  good  redd  gold, 
10<>  Shippcs  of  Ladyes  of  the  moure, 

i8    1<X)  Shippcs  of  wheat  boulted  flower, 
1(K)  Shippcs  of  Ladyes  bright, 
100  Shippes  of  new  dubdd  knights ; 
&  yctt  you  must  doe  that  is  more  pine, 

52    t4iko  the  Halt  sea  &  tume  it  to  red  wine ; 
but  he  hath  sett  her  on  such  a  pinne 
thai  you  can  her  ncuer  winne." 
'*  some  thing  you  must  doe  for  mee, 

66    I  tell  you  all  in  veretye ; 

in  Ladyes  [clothes  *]  will  yee  mee  bowne, 
&  bring  nice  to  that  Ladyes  towne, 
&  boaird  me  there  one  yeere  or  towe 

60    amongst  those  Ladyes  for  to*  goe, 
&  lx)aril  *  me  there  yeeres  2  or  8 : 
amongst  those  faire  Ladyes  for  to  bee.'* 
he  tooke  the  fflood,  &  the  wind  was  good, 

64    A  he  ncuf.r  stayd  nor  stoodo 

vntill  he  came  to  that  Ladyes  hall : 

he  greeted  them  well  both  great  &  small, 

saycR,  '*  hccre  I  haue  brought  a  fayre  Ladye ; 

68    from  her  owne  ffrcinds  shee  is  comen  to  bee ; 
I  must  l>oard  her  a  yeere  or  tow 
amongst  yo?/r  Ladyes  for  to  goe." 
these  Ijadyes  sate  all  on  a  rowe ; 

72    some  began  to  cut  silke,  some  for  to  sowe ; 


*  clotlus,  qu. — P. 

^  A  K,  8(*oiningly  marked  out,  stands 
between  to  and  (/oti. — F. 


'  Mr.  6ee»  in  his  FbooMcrgr  of  1 
WordStgiyeB  board  T.n.  lodge, UMilj* 
1390  A.D.— F. 


KINO      ADLER. 


299 


the  Kifi^  daughter  sajes,  *'  jour  ffing^ars  are  too 
great, 

or  else  your  eyes  beenc  out  of  seat^ — 

I  tell  jon  full  soone  anon, — 
76     to  so  we  silke  or  Lay  gold  on.*' 

but  ere  the  12  moneth  was  come  &  gone 

ho  wan  the  fiurest  Ladye  of  euerye  one. 

tht^  CAAt  the  lot,  A>  one  by  one, 
80    Jt  all  the  LadyeB  euerye  one 

they  ca«t  it  ouer  2  or  3 : 

King  Adler  fiell  with  the  Kings  danghter  to  Ije. 

but  when  they  were  in  bedd  Laid, 
S4     these  wonU  vnto  her  then  hco  said ; 

saies,  *'  Lady,  were  Mat  man  this  day  aliue 

thai  you  wold  be  his  wedded  wifie, 

A  were  thai  man  soe  highlye  borne 
§•     thai  you  wold  be  his  hend  lemman  p  " 

**  thc»rc  is  noe  man  this  day  aline 

I  kept  to  lie  his  wedded  wifie, 

without  itt  were  King  Adler,  hee, 
9S     the  noblest  Kni'^/At  in  Christentye. 

my  father  hath  sett  me  on  such  a  pinne,' 

Kifi'j  Adler  must  me  neuer  winne.'* 

*'  but,  liiMlyr,  how  &  *  soc»  Ix'tydo 
^     KiN^  Atllor  wen*  in  yowr  l>ed  hidd  ? 

wold  vou  not  call  them  all  att  a  stowre, 

none  of  the  lA4lyes  within  yo»<r  Iwwer  ? 

nor  wold  you  not  call  them  all  at  a  call, 
100     none  (»f  the  Lonln  in  your  fathers  hall  ? 

nor  wnKl  vou  not  call  them  all  bv-deene, 

yowr  flkther  the  Koij/,  nor  yoeir  mother  the  quocne  ? 

but  mm  quickly  you  wold  gett  you  lx)wne, 
UA     t«»  1:1  H?  with  Kutij  Ad  lor  out  of  the  towne  ?  ** 

Nkin  fthe<%  **  if  itt  wold  84)e  U'tydo 

King  Adler  were  in  my  bed  hidd, 

•  MS.  pim<'.-F.  »  aa.  if.— F. 

x'i 


TbtPrii 
teUsAdkr 
hisflofvn 
Are  Um  trig. 


OMnichi 
tlwjcail 
loufbr  b«d- 
fellows 


tl»C«»4] 
■adAdkr 

WiMtlM 


H« 


B'd 


Ukato 


:SH 


ppnae 
>  In  TO 


**Baiii>nae  h» 
your 
bed. 

woold  70a 

jroor  ladks 


and  Om 
Klnf  Aod 
(^urm.  or 
ebipc   vtih 
Adkr?** 


3<M» 


KINGC   ADLEC. 


r\         :   T..J 
Lai.--:. 


g"^  f.iff  with 
A  i:.  r.  • 


A'lVr 

hiiurolf, 


cnrrio"*  Li» 
ui  il>  r  ).!-« 

BTRI.  Hful 

hoino. 


3[ny  wn  nil 
jir«i-|M^r  till 
moil  Wid  -y! 


I  wolJ  not  call  them  all  in  stowre, 
in?    none  of  the  Lailves  in  mv  bower ; 

nor  I  wold  not  call  them  all  an  a  call, 

r.-nie  of  the  Li">rds  in  mv  fathers  hall ; 

r.or  I  tvoM  not  call  them  all  bj-deenee, 
112    my  tTiither  the  Kinsr,  nor  my  mother  the  Qneoie; 

Imi  siX'  iinicklyc  I  wold  gett  me  bowne 

to  ir«x?  wi'th  Kiujr  Adlcr  ont  of  the  towne." 

*'  but  tume  thee,  Ljidve,  hither  to  mee  ! 
116    for  I  am  the  Kjng]  that  speakes  to  thee!  " 

"alacke  !  K'fi;/  Adier  !  I  shall  catch  cold, 

for  I  can  neu'V  tread  on  the  mold, 

but  ypon  rich  cloth  of  gold 
120    that  Ls  •)  thou<iand  fold/' 

"  jx^ace,  fjiire  Lady  !  youst  catch  noc  harme,' 

for  I  will  carry  vou  vnder  mine  arme." 

he  tookc  the  fflood,  &  the  winde  was  good, 
124    4!b  he  neuer  stinted  nor  stood 

vntill  he  came  to  his  owne  hall ; 

he  greeted  them  well  both  great  &  small. 

j^od  send  vs  all  to  be  well,  &  none  to  be  woe, 
128    vntill  they  wine  their  true  loue  soe  ! 

ffins. 


»  harno  in  MS.— F. 


Down  the  left  margin  of  this  p.  284 
of  tln'  MS.  i*«  written  : 

my  swftt  hrothcr  finer t  Cuha         Edward 


Uevrll 


liooke 


FJizaUih  Jie/'cli, 


And  in  the  same  hand  are  written  on  the 
right  of  verse  3  of  "Boj  and  Mantle" 
t&  sam  find  fh^nerey. — ^F. 


301 


Sop  anH  iHantlt^^ 

Tbis  ballad  was  priDted  by  Professor  Child  as  the  first  in  his 
English  and  Scottish  BalUuU^  under  the  title  of  ^The  Boy  and 
the  Mantle/^  with  the  following  Introduction : — 

No  incident  is  more  common  in  romantic  fiction,  than  the 
employment  of  some  magical  contrivance  as  a  test  of  conjugal 
fidelity,  or  of  constancy  in  love*  In  some  romances  of  the 
Kouud  Table,  and  tales  founded  upon  them,  this  experiment  is 
performed  by  means  either  of  an  enchanted  horn,  of  such  pro- 
perties that  no  dishonoured  husband  or  unfaithful  wife  can  drink 
from  it  without  spilling,  or  of  a  mantle  which  will  fit  none  but 
chaste  women.  The  earlient  known  instances  of  the  use  of 
these  ordealn  are  afforded  by  the  Lai  du  Com,  by  Robert  Bikez, 
a  FVench  minstrel  of  the  twelfth  or  thirteenth  century,  and  the 
Fabliau  du  Mantel  MautailU^  which,  in  the  opinion  of  a 
comfH-tent  critic,  dates  from  the  second  half  of  the  thirteenth 
centur}',  and  ii4  only  the  oKUt  lay  workeil  up  into  a  new  shape. 
(Wulf,  L'ebrr  die  A<i/^,  327,  h<j.,  342,  wj.)  We  are  not  to 
ffiippuM.',  huwevor,  that  either  of  these*  pieces  presents  us  with 
the  primiti\e  form  of  thin  humorous  invention.  Robert  Bikez 
t«'lU  us  that  he  learned  hi.s  storv  from  an  abbot,  and  that 
**  noble  ecclesiiuit "  Htcxxl  but  one  further  liack  in  a  line  of 
tra^lition  which  curiosity  will  nevrr  follow  to  its  source.  We 
hhall  coiitc-nt  ourselves  with  noticing  the  most  reniarkuble 
(0.^*91  of  the  use  of  these  and  similar  talismans  in  imaginative 
litrrature. 

In  the   Roman  dr  TrijttaHy  a  composition  of  unkuown  anti- 

'  Thia    Mrrm*    to   haTr    funii»!Ml    tho       IAk    4.    Cant.  '1.   St.    25   tne*i.     Lib.   5. 
Hitot   of    Hunmrrt  UtnJlc   U>  Sj^ncrr.       C*iil,6.— P. 


302  BOT   AND  MANTLE. 

qiiity,  the  frailty  of  nearly  all  the  ladies  at  the  court  of  King 
JNIarc  is  exposed  by  their  essaying  a  draught  from  the  marvelloiiB 
horn,  (see  the  English  Movie  Arthur,  Southey's  ed.  i  297).  In 
the  Ihmian  de  Perceval,  the  knights,  as  well  as  the  ladies, 
undergo  this  probation.  From  some  one  of  the  chivalrous 
romances  Ariosto  adopted  the  wonderful  vessel  into  his  Orlando, 
(xlii.  102,  sq.,  xliii.  31,  sq.,)  and  upon  his  narrative  La  Fontaine 
foundenl  the  tale  and  the  comedy  of  La  Coupe  EnchantSe.  In 
German,  wc  have  two  versions  of  the  same  story, — one,  an 
episode  in  the  Krone  of  Ileinrich  vom  Tiirlein,  thought  to  have 
been  borrowed  from  the  Perceval  of  Chretien  de  Troyes,  (DU 
Sage  voni  Zaubeiievher,  in  Wolf,  Ueber  dU  Lais,  378,)  and 
another,  which  we  have  not  seen,  in  Bruns,  Beitrdge  zur  h^Ui- 
sclten  Bearheituufj  alter  Ilandschr  if  ten,  ii.  139;  while  in  English, 
it  is  represented  by  the  highly  amusing  "  bowrd,"  which  we  are 
about  to  print,  and  which  we  have  called  The  Horn  of  King 
Arthur.^  The  forms  of  the  tale  of  the  mantle  are  not  so 
numerous.  The  fabliau  already  mentioned  was  reduced  to 
prose  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  published  at  Lyons,  (in 
1577,)  as  Le  Maidean  mal  tailU,  (Legrand's  Fabliaux,  3rd  ed. 
i.  12G,)  and  under  this  title,  or  that  of  Le  CouH  Mantel,  is  very 
well  known.  An  old  fragment  {Dev  Mantel)  is  given  in  Haupt 
and  lloSintinn^H  Altdcuttfche  Blatter,  ii.  217,  and  the  story  is  also 
in  Brims'  Beitrdge.  Lastly,  we  find  the  legends  of  the  horn  and 
tlie  mantle  united,  as  in  the  German  ballad  Die  Ausgleichung, 
{Des  Kncd)€n  Wunderhorn,  i.  389,)  and  in  the  English  ballad  of 
The  Boy  and  the  Mantle,  where  a  magical  knife  is  added  to  the 
other  curiosities.  All  three  of  these,  by  the  way,  are  claimed  by 
tlie  Welsh  as  a  part  of  the  insignia  of  Ancient  Britain,  and  the 
special  property  of  Tegau  Eurvron,  the  wife  of  Garadog  with  the 
strong  arm.     (Jones,  Bardic  Museum,  p.  49.) 

In   otlier  departments  of   romance,  many  other   objects  are 

«  Child's  Ballads,  i.  17-27,  from  MS.  Ashmole  61.  fol.  50-62. 


BCrr   AKU  lUSTLR. 


303 


lowod  wilb  tbe  same  or  an  analogous  virtue,     tu  ludinn  and 

I  tUttj,  the  toit  of  innootrnoe  is  a  nMl  lotujt-fluWLT ;  in 

4iiuK'ta,  a  garlandi  wbich  &tit«fl  on  the  bn>w  of  tbe  unfiulliful ;  * 

Th«  J>iy  of  tht  HtM6  in  l'frctftirv«t  U 

1  (according  to  Schmidt)  of  the  iniicIi-prMaed  talu  of 

\  GtmUl^  ou   la   Mani^r^   tt«  Jiifr  U  fmr/nit  Ami/ur, 

\l99i\ — in  wEkidi  a  tnutpciaa  prpwotA  a  jealoua  husband  with 

k  portrait  in  was,  thai   will  in<licat«  l>y  change  uf  ctilour  the 

I  toiiddity  of  bis  wife, — and  suggisted  the  suine  dirvice  In  thu 

I  tvonly-fint  dotcI  of  Bandello,  (Part  FifHt,)  tut  thv  tranalation 

[of  vliich   in   Paiuti^i  PtUaee  uf  Plxmurf,  (vol.   ii.  No.  28,) 

J  hi*  play  of  Tkf  Pictun,     Agnin,  in  tho  tale 

«  nwl  thf  Kinif  iij  the  Orttii,  in  the  Arabian 

■  of  proof  is  a  mirror,  that  reflects  only  tbe 

t  ft  apotlen  maiden ;  in  that  of  the  earpeiiter  and  tbe 

[faler,  in  tbe  6/«/<i  Uomanorum,   (c   69,)  a  shirt, 

■  ebsan  and  wbole  as  long  as  both  partii-n  am  Inic ; 

I  Pataurm  of  Kngtahd,  a  cnp  of  teoni,  which  bL-comcs  dork  io 

)  baoda  of  ao  iaeottrtant  bivfr;    in  tbe   Fairy  i^ufm,  tbo 

kjpnll*  of  Florimrl;   In  Hurrt  and   Rimnild   (Itilson, 

I,  iii.  301,)  as  well  as  in  tne  or  two  ballads  in 

D  [«d.  Chibl},  thi<  atooe  of  a  ring ;  in  a  Oerman  Inllai), 

^JCrmwisrA'uKtV'N  rvfi  .1nVr>,(Kr)ach,  WJliali/ttl^r  iter  Dnit- 

,  i.  133,)  a  golden  crown,  tiutt  will  fit  lite  bead  uf  un  inmn- 

W*)lhiiut  pretcndiug  to  exhauHt  Ib«  subject,  we 

Htj  add  tbr«e  InsloiKrs  of  a  diffen^ut  kind:  tbn  Valley  Id  the 

t  of  LanetlU,  whidi  being  entered  by  a  fiuthlcsa  lover 


tmm  i0rm  tky  murtaai  al  rM»fj« 
Fm  ya  W7U>  *w»  b.  M*. 
"I*  Ikt  wfcjis  tkf  wjh  f  MsbU 


Tk  >!u4>Ut  wUl>  hoU  Im«; 
A«d  Tf  tlij  ajh  nB  potij. 
Or  Ii4li> «;  BUM  M  If*  ti*r  Wjr, 

Tlw*  wnha  ft  (hup  Iwvr  ; 
Awl  li;  lb  gutaai  iva  n*j  mm. 


1 


304  BOT   AND   UA^TLE. 

would  hold  him  imprisoned  forever ;  the  Cave  in  Amadis  of 
Gaidy  from  which  the  disloyal  were  driven  by  torrents  of  flame; 
and  the  Well  in  Horn  and  lihanild,  {ibid.)  which  was  to  show 
the  shadow  of  Horn,  if  he  proved  false. 

In  conclusion,  we  will  barely  allude  to  the  sing^ular  anecdote 
related  by  Herodotus,  (ii.  Ill,)  of  Phero,  the  son  of  Sesostris,  in 
which   the   experience   of   King  Marc  and  King  Arthur  is  so 
curiously  anticipated.     In  the  early  ages,  as  Dunlop  has  re- 
marked, some  experiment  for  ascertaining  the  fidelity  of  women, 
in  defect  of  evidence,  seems  really  to  have  been  resorted  to. 
"By  the  Levitiwil   law,"  {Xumbers  v.   11-31,)  continues  that 
accurate  writer,  "  there  was  prescribed  a  mode  of  trial,  which 
consisted  in  the  suspected  person  drinking  water  in  the  taber- 
nacle.    The  mythological  fable  of  the  trial  by  the  Stygian  foun- 
tain, which  disgraced  the  guilty  by  the  waters  rising  so  as  to 
cover  the  laurel  wreath  of  the  unchaste  female  who  dared  the 
examination,  probably  had  its  origin  in  some  of  the  early  institu- 
tions of  Greece  or  Egypt.     Hence  the  notion  was  adopted  in  the 
Greek  romances,  the  heroines  of  which  were  invariably  subjected 
to  a  magical  test  of  this  nature,  which  is  one  of  the  few  particulars 
in  which  any  similarity  of  incident  can  be  traced  between  the 
Greek   novels   and   the  romances  of  chivalry."      See   DuNLor, 
Hltftory  of  Fictivn,  London,  1814,  i.  239,  s^i.;  Legband,  Fab- 
liaax^  3d  eJ.,  i.  149,  sq.,  161  ;  Schmidt,  Jahrbiicher  der  Litem" 
tnr,  xxix.  121  ;  Wolf,  Ueber  die  Lais,  174-177;  and,  above  all, 
Guae.sse's  SagenhreisG  dea  MittelalterSy  185,  sq. 

The  Boy  and  the  Mantle  was  [said  to  be]  "printed  verbatim  " 
from  the  Percy  MS.,  in  the  lieliquea  of  Ancient  English  Poetry, 
iii.  38. 

A  i)oy  comes  IN  the  third  day  of  May, 

to  Carleile  did  come 
a  kind  curteous  child 
4         that  cold  much  of  wisdome. 


BOT   AND   MANTLE. 


303 


It 


»! 


S4 


sa 


.12 


a  kirtle  &  a  Mantle 
this  Child  had  vppon, 

with  braaches  '  and  ringes, 
fall  richelje  bedono. 

he  had  a  sute  of  silko 

aboat  his  middle  drawne  ; 

witliout  ho  cold  *  of  cnrtesye, 
he  thought  itt  much  shame. 


^*  god  speed  thee,  King  Arthor, 

sitting  att  thy  meate ! 
A  the  goodlje  Qaeenc  Gaeneoer! 
U         I  canott  her  fforgctt. 


*'  I  tell  joa  Lords  in  this  haU, 
I  hett  jon  all  heate,' 

except  you  bo  the  more  sorer 
is  joa  for  to  dread.** 


ricfaly 
jewcUfld. 


H«svMli 
Arthur 


(ptftSSft] 


he  plucked  out  of  his  potewer,^ 

&  lon^*r  wold  not  dwell, 
he  pulled  forth  a  pretty  mantle 

betwecnt*  2  nut-iiholls. 

**  haue  thou  hfre  Kin^j  Arthure, 

Imuf  thou  hecre  <»f  meo; 
giue  itt  to  thy  conu'ly  (|uccne 

bha|>i*n  an  itt  ia  already e ; 

**  itt  sliall  ncu^r  l)eoome  //«it  wifle 
thai  hath  onco  dune  amiKHe.*' 

then  euery  Ktit\jht  in  the  Ki'iiys  court 
lH*gan  t4>  care  fur  his  wiffe.^ 


•adpallt 
ontof  lito 


amADtto 


t«U«  Arthor 


tn  cfTf  to 
Hi 


»  i:.--^h<»— P.    ?  M.^.  brmuchr*.     F. 

•  !.«•.:.   'ju      P.     b«edr. -/tW.      h*t«', 
{'r«»i»'   —  F. 

*  S»«  paf.  M2,  frr.  9S  [pottoen  in 


Ar  /Aryrrr.)— P.       pf>UTT«'r.-    //'Z.     Tho 
•  Ujpin  to  care  fur  nii.— I*.     ?  care  ta 


306 


BOT  A17D  MAJ9TLE. 


OucncTcre 
takes  it. 


It  tears  In 
two, 


and  changes 
colour. 


Arthur 
thinlcR  she  is 
not  true. 


OUCUCVCTO 


ruphos  off 
bluiUiing, 


cursOT  the 

mantle- 

maker 


and  the 
child, 


and  wvys 
she'd  rather 
be  in  a  wood 
than 
shamed. 


forth  came  dame  Gueneuer ; 

to  the  mantle  shee  her  biled  ^  : 
the  Ladye  shce  was  new  ftmgle,' 
36         but  yett  shee  was  afifrajd. 

when  shce  had  taken  the  Mantle, 

shee  stoode  as  she  had  beene  madd 
it  was  from  the  top  to  the  toe 
40         as  shecres  had  itt  shread.' 

one  while  was  itt  ganle/ 

another  while  was  itt  greene, 
another  while  was  itt  wadded, — 
44         ill  itt  did  her  beseeme, — 

another  while  was  it  blacke 

&  bore  the  worst  hue. 
"by  my  troth,"  quoth  Kmg  Arthur, 
48         "  I  thinke  thou  be  not  true." 

shee  threw  downe  the  mantle 

that  bright  was  of  blee.* 
fast  With  a  rudd  ^  redd 
52        to  her  chamber  can  shee  flee ; 

shee  curst  the  weauer  &  the  walker  ^ 

that  clothe  that  had  wrought, 
&  bade  a  vengeance  on  his  crowno 
56         that  hither  hath  itt  brought ; 

"  I  had  rather  be  in  a  wood 

vnder  a  greene  tree, 
then  in  Kiuij  Arthurs  court 
60         shamed  for  to  bee." 


*  Query  the  le  m  the  MS. — F.  hied. 
—He/. 

^  mw  f angle  is  fond  of  a  new  thing, 
catching  at  novelties,  ab.  A.-S.  favgan, 
apprehendoro,  capere,  compere,  hinc 
fangy  Gloss,  ad  G.  D. — P. 


■  i.  e.  divided. — ^P. 

*  gule,  qu. — P.    red. — F. 

*  colour,    complezioo,     i^eoi^idei 
Saxon. — P. 

*  Complexion. — ^P. 

»  Fuller,  Jun.— P.  A-S.  wetirnn.-^ 


BOT  AXD  1CA5TLB.  307 

Kmj  called  forth  hiB  ladje,  bjcaih 

&  InuIo  her  come  neere ; 


trlMtlw 


Huea,  **  milam,  A  thoa  be  gniltje, 
64         I  praj  thee  hold  thee  there.*' 

forth  came  his  Ladjo 

■hortlye  &  anon ; 
boldlye  to  the  Mantle 
68        then  ia  ahce  gone. 

when  she  had  tane  the  Mantle 

A  cast  it  her  about, 
then  was  shee  bare  bm  H 

71        all  abune  the  Bnttoockea.' 

then  enery  Knight 

ikai  was  in  the  Kings  coort 
talkinl,  Iaag[h]ed,  &  sbowted, 
76        fall  oA.  att  ikai  sport. 

shee  threw  downo  the  mantle 

/A'lt  bright  was  of  bice  : 
fiaift  Wf'th  a  rvd  mdd 
M        to  her  chamber  can  shee  flee. 

forth  cariii*  an  old  Kt*i*jhi  As  aid 

|i&tt«Titii^ '  i»ri*  a  cnHMle,  thr  tm  m 

&  lit-  pr-'fcm-il  to  til  in  title  Im>j 
•4         2'.'  umrkt'H  to  Iiim  iiiei*de, 

A  all  the  time  of  the  Chnjitmaime 

wiUi(^i;lvo  to  flV'vtli*  ; 
for  why  thiM  Mantle  mi^lit 
^n  doe  his  wiff©  some  need.  ruJifi."* 

^   lU'-.r»  *!I  'hr  r««Ql       lift.  mit  in  Shrr»p«hir^  to  p^ti^,  i.  r.  tn  Bi«k« 

*  ;4"'f.  •>*«-«pj  murTiiuri<  humil  I'Qt       m  nm—,    am    «h«o    i*oo    nil-*    ihr   irrl 
r  •fuuma  kT|iijmtaruni  iii»t«r,  otrani       agtimiit  thr  |^gttd,4c  Kimlrl^^. — I*. 


rilh 


308 

She  takes  it. 


and  htm  only 
a  tHsst'l  and 
thread  on 
her. 


92 


BOY   AND   MANTLE. 

When  sheo  had  tane  the  mantle 

of  cloth  that  was  made, 
shcc  had  no  more  left  on  her 

but  a  tassell  &  a  threed. 
then  euery  'Knight  in  the  "KingB  court 

bade  "  euill  might  shee  speed." 


[Piffe 


She  rushes 
off  shamed. 


shee  threw  downe  the  Mantle 
96         thai  bright  was  of  blee, 
&  fast  w/th  a  redd  rudd 

to  her  chamber  can  shee  flee. 


Craddock 
tells  his  wife 
to  try 


Craddocke  called  forth  his  Ladye, 
100         &  bade  her  come  in ; 

saith,  *'  winne  this  mantle,  Ladje, 
With  a  litle  dinne  : 


and  win  the 
mantle. 


"  winne  this  mantle,  Ladje, 
104         <&  it  shalbo  thine 

if  thou  neuer  did  amisse 
since  thou  wast  mine." 


She  comefl,  forth  Came  Craddockes  Ladje 

108         shortlye  &  anon, 

but  boldlye  to  the  Mantle 
then  is  shee  gone. 


puts  it  on ; 


it  begrins  to 
crinkle  up. 


when  sliee  had  tane  the  mantle 
112         &  cast  itt  her  about, 

vpp  att  her  great  toe 

itt  began  to  crinkle  *  &  crowt ; 

shee  said  "  bo  wo  downe,  Mantle, 
116         &  shame  me  not  for  nought ; 


•  to  crinkle,  to  go  in  &  out,  to  run  in      — P.    Crout^  a  variant  oi  crowd,  to  ( 
flexures ;  from  krinckelen  Beiff.  Johnson.       close  together. — F. 


BOT  AND   MANTLE. 


309 


"  once  I  did  amissc, 

I  tell  you  ccrtainlje, 
when  I  kiMt  Craddockes  mouth 
IfO         Vnder  a  grccne  tree, 

when  I  kist  Craddockes  mouth 

before  he  marryed  mee." 

when  shee  had  her  shreeuen/ 
1S4         A  her  sines  shee  had  tolde, 
the  mantle  stoode  about  her 
right  as  shee  wold, 

soemel  je  of  coulour, 
lis         glittering  like  gold. 

then  euerj  Knujht  in  Arthurs  court 
did  her  behold. 

then  spake  dame  Gueneuer 
132         to  Arthur  our  King, 

'*  she  hath  tane  yonder  mantle, 

not  With  Wright*  but  with  wronge  ! 

**  aci*  you  not  yonder  woman 
136         //i/it  makftli  her  Ht*lfo  soo  deare*? 
I  hftue  WH'm*  tane  out  of  her  bedd 
of  men  fiueteot»ne, 

**  Pn-iHtH,  ClarkeH,  &  wedcliHl  men 
140         fn»m  her  bv-chfnc  I 

yett  hhv**  takrth  the  mantle 
Sc  maki'th  htT-selff  cleane  !  ** 

then  H|iako  tin*  Htle  l)oy 
144         //i#tt  kc*|»t  till*  mantle  in  hold  ; 
savins  •*  K/n/i !  Chanton  thv  wiflV  ! 
of  hvr  wonis  shee  is  to  bold. 


thai  aba 

kiMed 

Craddook 


before  b« 
married  ber. 


Themantte 
mcrinklas. 


dotbfliber. 


and  flitters 
like  gold. 


QameTere 


maliiriis 

Owklock'e 

wUe, 


MfH  the  baa 
wo  Htumn 
mm  taken 
oat  of  bar 
bed. 


Tbe  Doy 


u\U  Artbor 
to  rr««rmin 
bU  «lfr. 


i.#    cucfrmmi  :   ehnfr,   fatch,  cutifi' 
Iliac  •hrorrtide.     Jan. — P. 


«  right.- P. 
•  cleaoa.— P. 


310 


BOT   AND  MANTLE. 


who  U  A 
whorv. 


ao<l  hfts 

CQckoldcd 

him. 


(( 


shee  is  a  bitch  &  a  witch, 
14S         &  a  whore  bold ! 

Eang,  in  thine  owne  hall 
thou  art  a  Cochold !  *' 


The  BojMca 
m  boor; 


mn^ont.cQU 
off  iu  ht«d. 


brings  it 
in. 


an<I  mvK  no 

ClK'knhi 

can  cut  it. 


A  litle  boj  ^  stoode 
152         looking  oner  a  dore ; 

he  was  ware  of  a  w  jld  bore  * 
wold  hane  werryed  a  man. 

he  pnlld  forth  a  wood  kniffe  ; 
156         fast  thither  that  he  ran ; 
he  brought  in  the  bores  head, 
&  quitted  him  like  a  man. 

he  brought  in  the  bores  head, 
160         and  was  wondcrons  bold : 

He  said,  "  there  was  nener  a  Cncholds   (pai 
knifife 
came  itt  that  cold." 


Pome 
kniKhta 

tlirow  their 
knives 
away ; 


others  try,       ^ 
but  can't  cut 
it. 


Craddock 


cuts  np  tho 
head. 


some  rubbed  their  k[n]ine8 
164         vppon  a  whetstone ; 

some  threw  them  vnder  tho  table, 
&  said  they  had  none. 

King  Arthus  &  the  Child 
168         stood  looking  them  vpon*; 
all  their  k[n]iues  edges 
turned  backo  againe. 

Craddoccko  had  a  litle  kniue 
172         of  Iron  &  of  Steele  ; 

he  birtled*  the  bores  head 


'  The  little  boy.— P. 
•  And  there  as  he  was  looking 
Ho  was  ware  of  a  wyld  Bore. 

Qu.— P. 


•  upon  them,  Qu. — ^P. 

*  birtled,  OP  britled.— P.  A.-a 
tian^  to  diyide  into  fingmeiitBy  distz 
— F. 


BOT  A50  1CA2KTLI.  311 


wondoraiiB  week, 
iKai  euerj  Kmi4jht  in  the  Ejii^  eoori 
17$        had  a  momell. 

the  litle  bqj  had  a  home 

of  red  gold  thai  range ; 
he  laid,  ^  there  was  noe  Cuckolda 
ifO        shall  drinke  of  mj  home, 
bat  he  ahold  itt  sheede 

Either  behind  or  beforae." 


■ome  ihedd  on  their  shoolder, 
IM        A  tome  *  on  their  knee ; 

he  thai  cold  not  hitt  his  month 
pnt  it  in  his  eje; 

A  he  thai  was  a  Cuckold, 
isa        eneij  man  might  him  see. 

Craddoocke  wan  the  home 

A  the  bores  head; 
his  ladje  wan  the  mantle 
ifS         rnto  her  meedc. 

Euervc  sncb  a  loodr  Ladve,  g«i 

God  send  her  well  to  speede ! 


ffina. 


! 


>  MM  is  the  MS.— F. 


f  •*  WKrn  as  I  dff  rfrrt,nl"  jmnM  in  Lo.  and  Hum.  Songs, 

y.  G8-1*, /#//</irf  here  in  tk€  MS.] 


312 


[Page  288  of  MS.] 

This  is  but  a  pedestrian  composition,  being  nothing  more  than 
a  passage  of  a  dull  and  not  very  accurate  history  of  England 
turned  into  yet  duller  and  as  inaccurate  verse.  It  was  written, 
or  perhaps  was  revised  and  added  to,  after  1619,  as  the  Queen  of 
James  I.,  Anne  of  Denmark,  is  spoken  of  as  dead  and  gone 
(v.  198),  and  she  died  in  that  year.  The  principal  hero  is 
Henry  VII.,  who  is  pronounced  a  paragon  of  virtue,  and  inier 
alia  a  most  faithful  and  affectionate  husband.  De  moHiiia  nil 
iilsl  huinim,  has  been  the  poetaster's  motto;  or  rather Z)c  Tudore 
morfuo  nil  nl^l  optimum.  The  piece  may  have  had  its  use  in 
aiding  and  abetting  the  memories. of  the  common  people.  Books 
were  not  yet  so  cheap  and  plentiful  but  that  artificial  memory- 
helps  were  welcome.  The  ballad  form  was  in  extreme  requisition 
and  popularity  for  all  manners  of  subjects  in  the  first  half  of  the 
seventeenth  century.     Everything  was  be-balladed. 


In  the  wara  iV  HEN  yorko  &  Lancaster  made  warre 

of  the  Rosea  .        ,  .     «.  t 

Within  tins  ffamous  Land, 
the  Hues  of  all  our  Noble  men 
4         did  in  great  danger  stand. 


»"»">'  7  Klnqs  in  bloodyo  ffeilde 

king^  wen?  •'  •' 

left  heirless  ffor  Englands  crowne  did  ffight, 

&  yetfc  their  he}Tes  were,  all  but  twaine, 
8         of  liflTe  bereaued  quite. 

•  In   the  printed  Collect /on   of    Old       Written   or   recast  in  James  I.'s  tine: 
Ballads,  1726,  Vol.  2.  p.  206,  N.  xv.— P.       see  linos  78,  149.— F. 


TIL 


WHITB  BOOB  Alio   RBD.  813 

ther  30000  EngliAhmen  mi  mjm 

were  in  ono  battel!  slaine ; 
jett  all  thai  English  blood  cold  not 
If        one  toUed  peace  obtaine. 

Iather[ii]  killed  their  owne  deare  sonne, 

the  tonnes  the  Sathers  slew, 
A  kinsmen  ffonght  against  their  King^ 
u        A  none  eche  other  knew. 


att  Lenghti  by  Heneiyes  Lawfiill  c 
these  wasting  warns  had  end, 

for  Enff lands  peace  he  did  restore, 
A  did  the  same  defend. 


ffor  tjrant  Richard  named  the  3^^ 

the  breeder  of  this  woe, 
by  him  was  slaine  nere  Leister  towne, 
f «        as  chronicles  doe  shoe. 


all  flcaro  of  warr  was  then  Exiled, 
wAich  IcvjchI  cche  Englishman ; 
A  da  JOS  of  long  desired  peace 
:!(»         within  this  Land  began«  tpttetMi 

he  mlitl  thin  kinplome  bj  true  lone, 

to  gaino  h'w  sabicctM  lines ; 

then  men  lined  qnietly  att  home 

^t         with  their  children  A  their  wines. 


IIL 


Ki'fi</  Henery  tooke  snch  princely  care  ikarr 

onr  ffnrther  peace  to  frsme, 
touke  flaire  Elisabeth  to  wifTe,'  nmM 

M         tfini  gallant  yorkshire  dame. 

*v^  MfjU  of  thr  ■  M  vasUag  ib  Ibe  IfSwF.    *  8es  IWyv  &m^  ta  vol  iii.— F. 
▼oL.   II.  T 


314 


WHITS  BOSS  AND   RED. 


York'H 
hcirctu; 


4  Edwordes  daughtei*,  blest  of  god, 

to  scape  king  Edwards  ^  spiglit^ 
was  thus  made  Englands  peereles  Que^ie^ 
40        A  Heneryes  hartes  delight. 

this  Henoiy,  ffirst  of  Tndera  name 

&  last  of  Lancaster, 
with  Yorkcs  right  heyre  a  true  loues  knott 
44        did  knitt  &  make  ffast  there. 


tho  White 
Kono  bedded 
with  Uio 
Eod; 


and  they  arc 
a  iMwlf^*  in 
the  Jioyol 
Arms. 


May  they 

fluuiiih 

iftilll 


renowned  jorke,  the  white  rose  gane  ; 

brauo  Lancaster  the  redd ; 
by  wodlocke  both  inoyned  were 
48        to  lyo  in  one  princely  bed. 

these  roses  grew,  A  buded  fayre, 

&  with  soe  good  a  grace, 
tJiat  Kings  of  Engl[a]nd  in  their  armes  * 
52        affords  a  worthy  place. 

&  fflonrish  may  these  roses  still, 
thai  all  they  world  may  tell ! 
tho  owners  of  those  princely  fflowers 
56        in  Yortno  to  Exoll ! 


60 


To  glorifye  these  roses  more, 
king  henerye  &  his  Queene 

did  placQ  their  pictures  in  red  gold, 
most  gorgeous  to  be  scene. 


ClM«ea 


The  Kinfc'g 
Guard  wear 


64 


the  'Kings  owne  guard  doe  weare  them  now 

ypon  their  backe  &  brest, 
where  loue  &  loyaltye  remaines, 

&  eucrmore  may  rest. 


*  That  is,  Richard's. — Adams. 
2  The  Red  and  White  Rotws 


were. 


never 
strictly  speaking,  in  the  Royal 


Arms,  but  were  and  are  a  badge 
with  them. — Gh.  K  Adams,  Rouge  D 


WHRB  BOOB  AHD  BXD  315 


tho  rod  rose  on  the  backe  is  placed, 

theron  m  crowne  of  gold  ; 
the  wb[i]te  rose  on  the  brest  m  rich, 

and  cnstlye  *  to  behold, 

bedecket  with  lilncr  ttnddee, 
A  coatee  of  scarlett  A  redd, 
a  bloBhing  hew,  wAich  Englands  fiune 
71        this  manj  jecres  hath  spredd. 

this  Tudor  &  PlantagineU 

these  honors  ffirst  devised 
ti>  weloomo  home  a  settled  peace 
74        bj  TS  soe  dearljc  prised : 

wAicb  peace  now  maintained  is 

bj  lames  oar  gracjoos  Kinge  ; 
flor  peace  brings  plentye  to  this  Land, 
so        with  manj  a  blessed  thing. 

to  speake  of  Heneryes  praise  againe : 

his  princlejr  liberall  hand 
gaoe  ginfts  &  graces  many  wajes 
M         vnto  this  ffsmoas  Laud. 

wherfurc  the  I^ord  him  bk-si«ing  ncnt 

for  to  encmiM*  hiH  litore, 
for  M<it  he  lc*f\  more  welthe  to  tb 
M         then  any  King  before. 

the  ffimt  blciwing  was  to  his  Qoecno, 

a  ginft  alwac  the  rvist, 
wAich  bnjuf^ht  him  sonnoii  &  daughters  fain*       with 
M         to  make  kin  Kingilome  blest. 

the  nijall  blood,  wAich  was  att  Ebbe, 

sne  c-ncmuied  by  thiji  Quecne, 
/A<it  Kiiglands  lieyro  vnto  tliiH  day  («Ikw»Ub 


doth  fHourish  ffn^sh  &  gnvnt*.  •»«>• 

*  omUt*.— P. 
tS 


316 


WHITE   BOSS  AlID  BED. 


HU  heir, 
Arthur 
priiioo  of 
Walcd, 
niiloil  to 
Spain 


the  first  blossome  of  this  seed 

was  Arthar,  Prince  of  wales, 
whose  vertae  to  the  Spanish  court 
100        qnite  ore  the  Ocean  sayles, 


«nd  marriffl 
Fonlinaiid'ri 
(liin(r]it«T 
Katlicrinc, 


104 


where  fierdinando,  King  of  Spajne, 
his  daughter  Eatherino  gaae 

ffor  wiffe  vnto  this  English  Prince 
a  thing  wAtch  god  wold  haue. 


hnt  (lied 
yoiinfr, 
(April  1603,) 


jett  Arthnr,  in  his  loftye  youth 

&  blooming  time  of  age, 
resigned  vp  his  sweetest  liffe 
109        to  dcathes  imperyall  rage. 


to  England's 
grlof. 


who  djing  thus,  noe  Isae  lefi, — 

the  sweet  of  natares  loy, — 
did  compasso  England  round  with  greeffo, 
112         &  Spaine  w/th  sadd  annoje. 


Tint  Henry 
VII.  hiul 
another  )}oy, 

Henry  VIII., 


yett  Henery,  to  increase  his  loy, 

a  Henery  of  his  name, 
in  fibllowing  time  8  Henery  called,' 
116         a  king  of  worthy  fiame ; 


who 

conqncrod 
French 
towns. 


he  Conquered  Bullcin  with  his  sword, 

&  many  towncs  of  firance  ; 
his  kinglyo  manhood  %  his  fortitude 
120        did  Englands  fiame  advance. 


put  down 
Tapintry, 


then  Popish  Abbyes  he  supprest, 

&  Pappistrye  put  downe, 
&  bound  their  Land  by  Parlaiment 
124        vnto  his  royall  crowne. 


^  The  d  is  mado  over  an  /  in  the  MS. — F. 


aU 


WHITB  R06B  AND   BED.  317 

ho  had  3  Children  hj  3  Qncenes, 

all  Princes  raigning  here, 
Edward,  Marry,  A  Elizabeth, 
Its        A  Qneene  bcloned  most  deere.  Cpit*tw] 

jett  these  3  branches  bare  noe  fraite;  ii«tkfiM 

noe  rach  blessing  god  did  send ; 
wherbj  the  King  by  Tadora  name 
13S        in  England  here  hath  end. 


Plantaginett  (first  Tndor 

named  Elizabeth ; 
Ellizabeth  Last  Tador 
IM        the  greatest  Qneene  on  Earth. 

This  Tudor  A  Plantaginett, 

by  ycelding  mto  death, 
banc  made  steward  now  the  grcates[t]  Ktny      ^ 
140        thai  is  now  vpon  the  earth. 

to  speakc  of  the  7  Henery  I  mnst,  Bmrj  rn. 

whotM.*  grace  ^ae  flrve  consent 

to  haue  hiit  (lau^hteni  marrycd  both  marrM  kta 

U4         tu  kings  of  his  descent.  daockicrio 

his  EIdc*Kt  dantrbtcT  Marffarett  thcKi^of 

waH  made  frreat  Scott  lands  Qocone, 
as  wiNc,  as  flaire,  ait  vert  nous, 
148         as  euer*  was  Ladyi*  Si*ene. 

of  thin  faire  Qri#*«-»i#'  onr  ro^-all  King  awij 

by  Lineall  cvmnc  descended, 
mhich  weareth  now  the  Im|M'ryall  crowne, 
lit  wAi'ch  g<Mi  nuw  utill  di-frndrth. 

•  (}n\y  uae  rtrtAc  fur  thr  ■  io  thr  MS      K 


tebvT 


318 


WHITE   BOSS  AND   RID. 


Hcnry'i 

■wound 

daiih'hter 

flrrt 

marriodthe 

King  of 

France, 


and  thm  tho 

Dnkcof 

Boffolk. 


his  second  daughter,  Marye  called, 

as  Princelye  by  degree, 
was  by  her  ffather  worthy  thought 
156        the  Qaeene  of  ffrance  to  bee ; 

&  after  to  the  Duke  of  Suffollke 

was  made  a  Noble  wiffe ; 
&  in  this  ffamoas  English  court 
160        shee  led  a  virtuoas  lifife. 


Henry  VII. 
and  bis 
Qnoen 
rojoioed ; 


but  the 
Quoon 


proved  with 
child, 


went  to  tho 
Tower  of 
London, 


and  died 
then; 


in  childbed. 


thns  Henery  &  his  lonely  Qneene 

rcioecd  to  see  tliat  day, 
to  hano  their  Children  thus  advanoet 
164        to  honors  euery  way, 

w7t/ch  purchased  pleasure  &  content 

w/th  many  a  yceres  delight, 
till  sad  mischance  by  cruell  death 
168        procured  them  both  a  spighte. 

this  worthy  Quoene,  this  gracyous  dame, 

this  mother  mccko  and  mild, 
to  add  more  number  to  their  loyes, 
172         againe  proucd  bigg  with  child ; 

whcratt  the  King  reioced  much, 
&  against  that  carcfuU  hower 
he  lodged  his  dccro  &  louelye  Queeno 
176         in  Londons  stately  Tower. 

which  Tower  proucd  fiatall  once 

to  Princes  of  degree ; 
itt  proucd  fifatall  to  this  Queene, 
180         for  thorin  died  shee, 

in  Child  bed  [she]  lost  hc[r]  sweet  liffe, 

her  lifTo  estemod  soo  deere, 
vfhich  had  bceno  Englands  Lonely  Qaeene 
184        many  a  happy  yecTO. 


WHITB  B06B  AMD  RBD.  319 


therfore  tlie  Kifi^  wm  greoned  sore, 

A  many  montlies  did  monmc, 
A  wept  A  Bghet,  A  said  **  liko  her 
1S8        he  cold  not  find  oat  one ; 

"  nor  none  he  wold  in  flancy  chnae 

to  make  hia  wedded  wiffei 
bat  a  widdower  he  wold  remaine 
I9t        the  remnant  of  hia  liffe.*' 

hia  latter  dayea  he  spent  in  peace 

&  qaiettnease  of  mind« 
liko  King  &  Quetne  aa  these  2  were, 
IM        the  world  can  hardlje  find ! 

jett  rach  a  King  aa  now  wee  hane, 

&  snch  a  Qntene  wee  had, 
who  hath  heaaenlj  powers  from  aboae, 
too        &  giaata  >  aa  th£  2  hadd. 


God  saoe  oar  Prince,  A  King  A  Land,  w  eST 

A  Bend  them  long  to  raigine !  ■**  ^^^^ 

in  health,  in  welth,  in  quietnessc, 
W4        amongst  vs  to  remaine !  flins. 


'  ?  ghotU.  f  piriu ;  or  mUwriiten  for  giafb.— P. 


320 


Bell  mp  Wlittt.^ 

The  Folio  verrion  of  this  song  is  here  printed  in  its  integrity  b 
the  first  time ;  for  in  the  copy  given  in  the  Rdiqiiei^  ^^ 
corruptions  "  **  are  removed  by  the  assistance  of  the  Scottish  edi- 
tion " — that  in  Ramsay's  Tea-^Tahle  Miscellany.  Our  readers  will 
not  be  sorry  to  see  these  "corruptions.'*  They  give,  indeed,! 
somewhat  diflFerent  turn  to  the  piece.  Whereas  in  the  ordiDii; 
version,  the  temptation  against  which  the  good  man  is  warned 
is  vaguely  "  pride,"  it  takes  in  the  Folio  MS.  a  more  definite 
shape.  He  is  tempted  to  abandon  his  agricultural  life  and  ton 
courtier.     He  vows : 

m  go  find  the  court,  within, 

I'll  DO  longer  lend  nor  borrow, 
111  go  find  the  court  within, 

For  I'll  have  a  new  cloak  about  me. 

Bell,  his  wife,  rejoins  : 

— good  husband,  follow  my  counsel  now : 
Forsake  the  court  and  follow  the  plough. 
Man,  take  thy  old  coat  about  thee. 

This  definiteness  inclines  us  to  believe  that  this  version  is  older 
than  the  current  one.  The  poem  naturally  grew  vaguer  as  it 
grew  generally  popular. 

That  it   enjoyed  an   extensive   popularity  is    shown  by  the 
appearance  of  one  of  its  verses  in  Othello^  and  the  delight  with 

*  This  Song  is  in  Ramsay's  Tea-table  This  seems  to  have  been  strip'd  of  it> 

Miscellany,  p.  105,  [1753],    The  printed  Scottisms  by  some  English  hand:  witA 

copy  is  much  better  than  this,  if  it  has  is   observable  of    some    other   in  this 

not  had  some    modem   Improvements.  Collection. — P. 


J 


BKtX  Ht  wirrK. 


321 


ibieb  Cmbo  bcmn  Tago  tn)!!  it  cmL     " '  Fore  Giul,  im  excelleut 
ig,"  mj*  Uw  linutroaot  of  "  And  Ivt  the  cauakin  clink,  clitLk;" 
(rf**  King  Steplieo  woA  ■  wgrtby  peer,"  '*  Why,  tiiu  i»  «  moro 
exquirile  bodj;  than  the  otiicr." 

Tbe  diftlect  in  vbicli  it  u  written,  and  tli«  gsDcral  ch«- 
ncter  of  tlie  piece — its  scenery,  iU  econotnj,  it*  cabntncaa 
:—  clearly  imply  s  nurtbem  origin.  Aa  to  tbs  tune  at 
vbich  it  wtu  writtt^o,  aII  Ihat  can  Iw  mid  is,  that  it  cteariy 
l«eU  Ml  age  of  Mci&l  dixtitrbauce  and  altemtjon — nn  age 
"w  pieked  that  the  toe  of  the  peasant  come*  to 
Uw  bwd  of  the  coartier  be  galls  bis  kibeu"  The  piece  is 
toon  than  a  mere  humorous  domestic  altercaUoo  as 
lenkbiog  of  a  buaband's  wardrobe.  It  it,  in  fact,  a 
tbe  tpirita  of  Social  KeroIutioD  and  Social 
Tbe  nan  is  anxioiu  to  better  hinuclf,  no  longer 
to  tend  cows  atul  drire  tbe  plough  ;  bin  ncighbouni  are 
adTanoing  artmnd  him ;  the  clown  in  not  now  dtstio- 
tnm  the  gentleman.  Tbe  old  arrangi-mcDta  have  had 
Metaphorically,  tbe  old  scatlot  cloak,  wliich  soms 
forty  yean  ago  waa  so  satiiifaetory,  and  kept  out  so 
-veil  the  wind  and  rain,  is  now  but  a  "sorry  clout,"  lt>uks  right 
aod  ababby  among  the  apntcv  black,  green,  yellow,  blue 
that  flaunt  around  it,  and  must  certainly  be  cast  off 
§at  aontKhing  new  and  fashioDable.  In  answer  to  all  these 
cmmUingfl,  tbe  other  retuiuds  bim  bow  well  titeir  oh!  life  baa 
m,  how  tbur  em[d(iyinciits  (though  bumble)  have  boon 
for  their  nomU,  bow  they  bave  lived  and  loTed  to- 
for  many  a  long  year  and  been  blecsed  with  luuiy 
atwl  the  bappincM  of  seeing  tbcm  grow  op  in  tba 
tnre  Bad  admouitiou  of  tbo  Lord,  bow  Uoyalty  had  oootcnted 


with  tbe  smallest  of  tailor's  billa  and  yat  thought  that 
and,  gencfmlly,  bow  pride  uodermine*  a  country.     Her 
■dtrioe  ii^  that  be  sboold  not  disquiet  himaelf  with  efforts  to  rise 


322  BELL  MT  WIFFE. 

in  the  world,  but  should  rest  content  with  the  state  wherein  he 
is.  The  goodman,  weary  of  controversy,  lets  his  wife's  counsel 
prevail.  He  sees,  in  the  version  now  given  (the  ordinary  form 
of  the  last  verse  is  much  less  striking),  what  his  wife  cannot 
see — that  is,  how  times  have  altered ;  but  he  consents  to  acqui- 
esce in  his  present  position — Orjaaav  rpdirt^cw 


O  Boll  my  wife !  why  dost  thou  flyte  ? 

Now  is  DOW,  and  then  was  then ; 
Wo  will  live  now  obedient  life, 

Thou  the  woman  and  I  the  man. 
It's  not  for  a  man  with  a  woman  to  threap 

Unless  he  first  gives  over  the  plea. 
Wo  will  Hto  now  as  we  began. 

And  ril  have  mine  old  cloak  about  me. 

As  to  the  author,  nothing  is  knowut  Undoubtedly  he  was  one 
who  had  noted  the  signs  of  his  times.  He  would  seem  to 
have  sympathised  with  those  who  r^^rded  the  social  changes 
transpiring  as  dangerous  and  to  be  deprecated.  To  us  he  is  a 
mere  voice  crying. 


{{ 


Cps|e»I] 


It  froczw  IHIS  winters  weather  itt  wazeth  cold, 

Imrd, 

&  ffrost  itt  fircescth  on  cneiy  hill, 
&  Boreas  blowcs  his  blasts  soe  bold 

AIUl  the  I      1        -i-i  J     11  ft  •11 

cnitiooro        4  /A'lt  all  OUT  cattcll  are  like  to  spill. 

Bell  *  my  wiffe,  shco  ^  loncs  noe  strife. 

My  wife  . 

!*<?»  •^j^     .  she  sayd  vnto  my  qnietlyc,' 

••  Gc't  up  and  •'  J   ^  J    ^ 

rave  the  « riso  ^^),  &  sauo  Cow  cnunbockes  liflTe ! 

cow  f  life.  *  ' 

r»t  your  old    8  man  !  put  thino  old  cloake  about  thee ! ' 

"stoQAiy,  •*  "  O  Bell  my  wiffo !  why  dost  thou  fflyte*  ? 

wifo.    Sly  tf  0  if 

cloak's  very  thou  kciis  my  cloake  is  verry  thin ; 

'  Then  [Boll]. — P.  st>em8  necossazy  to  sapport  the  diakm 

2  who.— P.  —p.                          *^*^         ^^ 

*  to  me  right  hastily.— P.  •  A.-S.  JlUan,  to  strive^  qnaneL—F. 

*  This  stanza  not  in  print:— and  yet 


I 


BELL  MT  WIFFK.  323 

itt  ii  toe  tore  ooer  wome, 
IS         a  crickc  *  theron  cannott  mim  : 

lie  goo  ffind  the  court  within, 
lie  noe  longer  lend  nor  borrow ; 

He  goe  ffind  tho  court  *  within,  i  iImii  gn  m 

l€         for  De  haue  a  new  cloake  about  me.** 

*' Cow  Crumbocke  is  a  very  good  cowe,  •'timoow^ 

thee  haa  alwajes  beene  good  to  the  pale,  Afoodoov. 

shee  haa  helpt  tb  to  butter  A  cheese,  I  trow, 
so  &  other  things  ahee  will  not  fayle ; 

for  I  wold  be  loth  to  see  her  pine ;  doat  kt  Im 

therfore,  good  huaband,  ffollow  my  connoeU  now,        ^** ' 

forsake  the  court  A  follow  the  ploughe ; 

54  man !  take  thine  old  ooate  about  thee ! "  fStH!!^^  -* 

*  ^  My  cloake  itt  was  a  rerry  good  cloake, 
it  hath  beene  alwayes  good  to  the  weare, 
itt  hath  coat  mee  many  a  groat, 

55  I  have  had  itt  thia  44  yeere ;  **rwiMMiBj 
sometime  itt  was  of  the  cloth  in  graine,^  tSuymn^ 

itt  IB  now  but  a  sigh  *  clout,  as  you  may  see ; 
It  will  neither  hold  out  windo  nor  raino ;  and  mfn  to 

3s  &  He  haoo  a  new  kloakc  ^  about  mce/*  ^"'^ 


"  It  in  U  yecrea  agoe  ..  ye..  ^^ 


01  nee  the  one  of  V8  the  other  did  ken,  u«tthiY 

A  WW  hauo  liad  betwixt  vs  both,  y«S^  *^' 

M  children  either  nine  or  ten  ; 

*  Crwkf,  mo«t   iiro^Ablj  nn  old  wonl  Heo  tcholde  wmndrc*  oo  )mt  w&lk,  hit 

(^  m  lm»e.     Jmmirmm.      Culn|wI^r  the  wm  to  ^rrd-b«rp.— F. 

«!<«n(<ioo   of  Arnhci*   in    I^anfcUndr'n  *  Only  half  the  «  in  th<>  MR — F. 

\  «i  -a  i>f  I'irrv  Floughnuin.  PaMuii  V.  *  Thif  HtAnia  it  Tery  different  from 

1   !•»;    11.1.  {.. :»«.  VenKmTrxt.<xLSkc«t:  M hat  in  print.— P. 

„      ^  •  Fr.  Cramoigi :    m.  rrimjon   colour. 

,     .            «»•  t    _y  ^        I      ««•            «            »^*   ^^  cramotn.      An  AMe   in   gninp. 
In  A  t*>r«  o  TaN'rt  of  twHqr  w  rnt^r  A|»e.       CotffmTr F 

I'.y   i:f  a  loiu  cun^e  Uyt,  I  <in  hit  nU  VT;,^^  miaermWe.-F. 

'    '  '"  *  ?  a  c  made  oTcr  the  fint  k  in  the 

MS.-   F. 


324 


BELL  MT  WIFFB. 


and  broaght 

tenchildricn 

up. 

Don't  be 
])roud  ;  pat 
your  old 
cloak  on." 


"  Old  tiiDM 
arc  old  ;  all 
])eople  dress 
fine  now, 


40 


44 


and  Til  have 
a  new  cloak      .  ^ 
too."  *8 


woe  hano  brought  them  vp  to  women  &  men 
in  the  fcare  of  god  I  trow  they  bee  ; 

&  why  wilt  thou  thy  selfe  misken  P 

man  !  take  thine  old  cloake  abont  thee !  " 

"  O  BcU  my  wiffe  !  why  doest  thon  flyte  ? 

now  is  nowe,  &  then  was  then ; 
secke  all  tho  world  now  thronghont^ 

thon  kens  not  Clownes  from  gentlemen ; 
they  are  cladd  in  blacke,  greene,  yellow,  &  blew/ 

soe  fiarr  abone  their  owno  degree ; 
once  in  my  lifib  Ho  take  a  vew,^ 

fibr  He  haue  a  new  cloake  abont  mee." 


"  King 
Harry 
thouh'lit  his 
brivclKM  too 
dear  at  bs. 


Don't  be 
proml ;  put 
your  old 
cloak  on." 


*•  Well,  it's 
no  good 


for  a  man  to 
dippute  with 
his  wife. 


I  will  put  my 
old  cloak 
on." 


"  King  Harry  was  a  verry  good  K[tn^  ;] 

I  trow  his  hose  cost  but  a  Crowne ; 
he  thought  them  12*!  oner  to  deere, 
52         therfore  he  called  the  taylor  Glowne. 
ho  was  King  &  wore  the  Crowne, 
&  thouso  but  of  a  low  degree ; 
itts  pride  that  putts  this  cnmtrye  downe ; 
66         man  !  put  thye  old  Cloake  abont  thee ! 

»  "  O  Bell  my  wiffe !  why  dost  thon  fflyte  ? 

now  is  now,  &  then  was  then ; 
wee  will  Hue  now  obedycnt  liffe, 
60         thou  tho  woman,  &  I  the  man. 

itts  not  ffor  a  man  with  a  woman  to  threape^ 

vnlosso  he  fi&rst  gine  ouer  the  play ; 
wee  will  line  nouo '  as  wee  began, 
64  and  He  haue  mine  old  Cloake  abant  me." 

ffilis. 


*  Some  letter  markcni  out  following  the 
b  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  ?  MS.  tcWf  a  rope  (or  lino) :   Nares. 
I'll  give  myself  Kome  rope,  license. — F. 

*  Different  from  the  print :  as  indeed 


is  almost  evciy  Line  of  the  wliolei— I 

*  A.-S.  ]>reapiany  to  threap,  i^ 
afflict.    Bosworth. — ^F. 

•  ?  MS.  'none*  for  'on'.— F,   Bil 
'  now ' ;  compare  1.  58,  69. — ^H. 


325 


I  Iiut  iDl^ere :  I  lottt  t 

n  affected,  strained  style  of  this  piece  telb  pretty  clearly  to 
bat  period  it  belongs.  **True  conceit  l)^  still  my  feeding,** 
ys  the  loTer;  so  evidently  says  this  author  too.  His  is  the 
*•  o$ientandi  artenu 


f V ITH  my  hart  my  lone  was  nesled ' 
into  the  sonno  of  happynesso ;  * 

ffirom  my  lone  my  liffo  was  rested' 
into  a  world  of  hcaainesso ; 

O  lett  my  lone  my  liffo  remaine,^ 

since  I  kme  not  where  I  wold.^ 


CiMftiit] 


witiinij 


Darksome  distance  doth  dovydo  vs, 
s  ffarr  ffrom  thcc  I  mast  remainc ; 

dismall  plam*tt8  Htill  doth  ^  guide  vs, 
ffoaring  wee  Rhuld  meeto  againc ; 

hot  ffmwanl  ffortuno  once  remoucd,' 
IS      then  will  I  line  whore  I  wold.** 

Iff  I  fiend  them,  di)e  not  ffUB|)ect  mce  ; 

but  if  I  come,  then  am  I  seene ; 
O  let  thy  wiiMlome  ^  WHt  direct  meo 
U  ih4it  I  may  blind  Ar^s  eyen  ! 

for  my  true  hart  nliall  neurr  remou[e,] 
tho  I  Hue  nut  where  I  loue. 


Wean 


but  FbfftiOM 
mMclHuiKv. 
Mid>win  a*. 


Do  not 


•wMf  ttvm 
fuo. 


R««d  mtMed,  tn  rfajnie  with  restrti. 


'  la  *  avBrnr  of  lup|>iDf  sue. — 1*. 

*  O  bt  ma  •ooo  trum  life  r«*in<irc. — 1*. 


•  Since  I  lire  not  when*  I  1ot<*,—  I*. 
^<lllt•«    I    live   not   wbrra  I   wtmlil 

fAiDe.— 11. 

•  ,lo.— 1».  •  mnoTr.— .r. 

•  lofr.— P,  •  Ma  WMilotte.-  F. 


326 


I  LIUE  WHBBB   I  LOUB. 


What  grief 
Itave  I 
»iiffer«d! 


Swectc !  what  grccffe  liane  I  sustained 
20         in  the  accomplishing  mj  desires- !  ' 

my  affections  are  not  ffained, 
tho  my  wish  be  nere  the  nere.* 

if  wishes  wold  substantial]  prone, 
24     then  wold  I  line  where  I  lone. 


With 
heart,  I  pray 

t(>  lio  with 
tbue  again. 


28 


Tme  conceit  be  still  my  feeding, 
&  the  ffood  being  soe  '  conceiptcd, 

whilest  my  hart  for  thee  lyes  bleeding, 
snnno  &  heancns  to  be  intreated ; 

perhaps  my  orisons  then  may  mone, 

that  I  may  line  where  I  lone. 


When 

lu>av(!n 

granUithij), 


we'll  Nnilo 
at  iMNt 
troubles. 


Loue  &  ffaction  still  agreeing, 
32         by  tho  consent  of  heanens  electyon, 

where  wee  both  may  hane  onr  being, 
\iidcmcath  the  heanens  protectyon, 

&  smiling  att  our  sorrowes  past, 
36     wee  shall  cnioyc  ^  onr  wishe  att  Last. 


ffins. 


'  To  accomplish  my  dcBiro. — P. 

*  iiij^hor. — r. 

'  Aftor  this  is  written  contented,  with 


tho  tenie  only  marted  out,  then  fa 
cdpti-d. — F. 
*  may  enjoy. — ^P. 


327 


l^oungt :  Sbibreto  : ' 

This  touching  ballad  is  unhappily  somewhat  imperfect  in  parts ; 
and  we  have  not  met  with  any  copy  elsewhere,  with  which  it 
might  be  collated. 

The  story  would  be  too  painful  and  disgusting  to  read,  but  for 
the  extreme  gentleness  of  the  poor  sadly  abused  lady.  This, 
while  it  aggravates  our  loathing  of  the  monster  whose  prey  she 
became,  and  makes  her  wrongs  the  more  hideous,  yet  renders  the 
tale  tolerable.  That  gleam  of  light  reconciles  our  eyes  to  the 
Htygian  darkness.  Otherwise  it  would  be  too  horrible.  We 
could  not  endure  even  to  read  of  such  a  fiend  as  he  who  appears 
m  It. 

This  atrociotis  rufGan  is  apparently  a  Scotchman  (so  his  name 
sc-eniK  to  imply,  and  vv.  69,  92),  who  concludes  a  moonlight 
ni<*fting  with  a  fond,  weak,  credulous  woman  by  deliberately 
robbing  her,  not  only  of  her  father^s  gold  which  she  had  fetched 
at  hiii  re<|ai'«t,  but  of  every  article  of  dress  she  had  on,  in  spite 
of  her  piteouK  pleadings,  and  this  with  brutal  declarations  that 
tht*  K|Kiil  is  intended  for  his  own  lady  who  dwells  in  a  far 
omntr}',  till  at  last  remains  to  her  only  such  covering  as  nature 
gavi' — her  long  flowing  hair.  Then  he  gives  the  poor  wretched 
creature  the  choice  of  dying  there  and  then  on  his  sword^s  point, 
or  p»ing  home  as  she  was.  She  goes  home,  to  be  greeted  by  her 
fiUh«-r*s  curse,  and  die  of  a  broken  heart  at  his  door.  Tlie  story 
M  Ufj  frightful  to  be  told  as  a  reality  ;  it  is  told  as  a  dream. 

*  HhrviaK  hit  dialujralty  to  an  Eari't  dAiigbt«r.     This  Suog  in  ■omo  I*Ucc«  t» 


328 


TOUNGE  ANDREW. 


T  (Ironmt  of 
Anilzvw. 


A  l.v1y  ty\U 

llilll  r*lli''h 

liivt^l  Iiini 
lung. 


ITo  kimcfl 
her. 


She  mnififlii 
him  of  liln 
)»n>nu«w  tu 
inurry  her. 


Up  payB  he'll 

do  it 

if  flu*  hringft 

liiin  hor 

father's 

Kold. 


She  geU  her 


fnthcr'n  .V>0/. 
uiid  jewels, 


nnil  tiikei} 
tlirin  to 
yoiinjf 
Andivw. 


8 


12 


16 


20 


24 


28 


As :  I  was  cast  in  my  ffirst  sleepc, 

a  dreadfifull  draught  ^  in  my  mind  I  drew ; 

fibr  I  was  dreamed  of  one  '  yong  man, 
some  men  called  him  yonge  Andrew. 

the  moono  shone  bright^  A  itt  cast  a  ffayre  light ; 

saycs  shoe,  ''  welcome,  my  honey,  my  hart,  &  m, 
swecte ! 
for  I  hauo  loued  thee  this  7  long  yeere, 

&  our  chance  itt  was  wee  cold  nener  meete." 

then  ho  tooke  her  in  his  armes  2, 
&  k[i]ssod  her  both  cheeke  &  chin  ; 

&  2*?  or  3?  he  pleased  this  may  • 
before  they  tow  did  part  in  twinn ; 

saics,  "  now,  good  S/r,  yon  hane  had  your  will, 

you  can  demand  no  more  of  mee ; 
Good  S/r,  Remember  what  yon  said  before,* 

&  goe  to  the  chnrch  &  marry  mee." 

'^  ffiiirc  maid,  I  cannott  doe  as  I  wold  ; 

[Till  I  am  got  to  my  own  country  *] 
goo  homo  &  fctt  ^  thy  fathers  redd  gold, 

&  He  goe  to  the  church  &  many  thee." 

this  Ladjc  is  gone  to  her  ffathers  hall, 
&  well  she  knew  where  his  red  gold  Lay, 

'  and  counted  fforth  5  hundred  pound 
besides  all  other  luells  &  chaincs, 

&  brought  itt  all  to  younge  Andrew ; 

itt  was  well  counted  vpou  his  knee, 
then  he  tooke  her  by  the  Lilly e  white  band, 

&  led  her  vp  to  one  ®  hill  soe  hye ; 


'  sketch,  pictiiro.— F. 

'  rt.-.p. 

'  maid.— P. 

*  you  tiwore. — P. 


*  Percy's  line. — F. 

•  fot.  Vid,  foL  614.  Note,— P. 
'  she.— P. 

"  a,— P. 


T0n2(0B  ANDREW.  329 


iMTrilkCB 


shoe  had  vpon  *  a  gownc  of  blacke  veluett ; — 

a  piityffall  sight  after  jeo  shall  see  ; — 
**  pat  of  thj  clothes,  bonny  wonche,**  he  saycs,  H« 

OBf  UUbB  off 

.13         ^'  for  noe  flbotc  farther  thoast  gang  wi'th  mee." 

bat  then  shoe  pat  of  her  gowne  of  relaett  * 

*  with  many  a  salt  teare  from  her  eye, 
And  in  a  kirtle  of  ffiue  *  broaden  silke  [pk^sm] 

V*         shoo  stood  beflbre  yoang  Andrews  eye. 

sain,  *^  o  pat  oflT*  thy  kirtle  of  silke ; 

flbr  some  &  all  shall  goe  with  mee : 
&  to  my  owne  Lady  I  mast  itt  beare, 
40         who*  I  mast  needs  lone  better  then  thee.*' 

then  shoe  pat  of  her  kirtle  of  silke  

wi'tli  *  many  a  salt  teare  still  ffrom  her  eye ;  itimm, 

in  a  peticoate  of  Scarlett  redd 
44         shec  Stood  before  yoang  Andre  wee  eye. 

saic-s,  "  o  pat  of*  thy  peticoate  ; 

fur  Home  &  all  of  itt  shall  goe  wi'th  mee ; 
&  to  my  owne  lju\y  I  will  itt  Ix^are, 
4 '  wAich  dwelLi  «oe  fiarr  in  a  strange  coontrye.** 

but  then  shee  put  of  tier  pi*ticoate 

With  many  a  salt  tvtav  still  from  her  eye;  iMTwhiu 

d  in  a  smocke  (»f  braao  whiti*  silke 
jI         fthix*  stood  before  yoang  Andrews  eye. 

haies,  *'  o  pot  of  ^  thy  smocke  (if  silke  ; 

fir  Mime  &  all  sliall  goe  wi'th  mei« ; 
vnto  my  owne  Ijulye  I  will  it  Ixtin*, 
'.'.  th*n  dwelln  sue  ffarr  in  a  stran^i*  ooantrje.'* 

•  rp  *  nirkHtcvl  for  f.-miMioo  \'j  V.  l'raj<!r«i. —  F. 
»  ^r:^'t  uuwn.  -  P.  »   I»ui  cjff.  put  «,flr.      P. 

•  wJ.  Ir  niAOj  .      .  rmn.  — I*.  •  whom.-  1*. 

•  •   fio«  kifilc.— P.      ?  bni^lru,  »  while  .  .  .  .  rm  fmm.  -  P. 

\"L.  II.  Z 


330 


YOUNOE  ANDREW. 


(though  9}\fi 
pmyMtokcep 


CO 


saycs,'  "  o  remember,  jonng  Andrew  ! 

once  of  a  woman  yon  were  borne ; 
&  fibr  thai  birth  that  Marye  bore, 

I  pray  yon  let  my  smocke  be  vpon  ! 


Aiirl  licr  head 
(IruH. 


ThMihoftnk^ 
tier  wlivtiwr 


rfM''ll  ille  fill 
his  •ownrd  or 
Ki>  naked 
home. 


She  CllOOSC4 


walking 
nakoil  homo, 

tml  wanin 
yoiiiif^r 

Aiiflrow  that 
her  fiiilior 
will  hunt; 
him  if  lie 
catcher  him, 


and  her 
bnil  hen*  will 
take  his  life. 


**  yes,  fiayro  Ladye,  I  know  itt  well ; 

once  of  a  woman  I  was  borne ; 
yctt  fibr  noe  birth  that  Mary  bore, 
ti4         thy  smocke  shall  not  bo  left  here  vpon.*' 

bnt  then  slice  put  of  her  head  geere  ffine  ; 

slice  hadd  billamcnts  '  worth  a  lOO^  ; 
the  hayro  that  was  vpon  this  bony  wench  head,' 
68         conercd  her  bodye  downe  to  the  ground. 

then  he  pulled  forth  a  Scottish  brand, 

&  held  itt  there  in  his  owne  right  hand  ;  ^ 
saies,  "whether  wilt  thou  dye  vpon  my  swor« 
point,  Ladye, 
72         or  thow  wilt  *  goe  naked  home  againe  ?  " 

"  my  liffo  is  sweet,  then  S/r,"  said  shoe, 

"  tlicrforo  I  pray  you  leaue  mee  with  mine ; 
before  I  wold' dye  on  your  swords  pointy 
7G         I  had  rather  goe  naked  home  againe. 

''  my  flTather,"  slice  sayes,  "  is  a  right  good  Erie 

as  any  remaines  in  his  countrye ; 
if  euer  he  doe  yoi*r  body  take, 
80         yoMr  sure  to  Slower  a  gallow  tree ; 

"  &  I  hauo  7  brethren,"  shee  sayes,  ^ 

"  &  they  are  all  hardy  men  &  bold  ; 
giff  euer  the  doe  yowr  body  take, 
8>         you  must  ueuer  gang  quicke  oner  the  mold.*' 


*  sho  gajros. — P. 

'  hulnllimcnts,  dress,  cloatlis. — P. 

■  but  .  .  .  upon  hiT  houd. — P. 


*  And  there  he  held  it  forth  aauio 
—P.  »  wilt  thou.-P. 

*  And  Boven  brethren  I  haTeihe siiy 
-P. 


TOUMOE  ANDREW. 


331 


**  if  jour  flathcr  be  a  right  good  Erie 

BH  any  rcmaincs  in  bis  owne  countrye, 
tush  !  bo  sball  ncner  mj  body  take, 
M         He  gang  soe  ffast  oner  *  tbe  sea  ! 

*'  if  yon  bane  7  brethren,**  ho  sayes, 

'*  if  they  be  neuer  aoe  hardy  or  bold  ; 
tosh  !  they  shall  nener  my  body  take ; 
9*i         He  gang  soe  ffast  into  the  Scottish  mold  !  ** 


Tooac 
Arxlrvw  Hjt 


matromher 
fatlMr, 


Aodtaka 

SooUaad 
from  her 


96 


Now  this  Ladye  is  g^ne  to  her  fathers  hall 
whca  euery  body  their  rest  did  take ; 

bat  the  Erie  wAich  was  her  ffather  [dear]  * 
lay  waken  for  his  decro  daughters  sake. 


TlMhKlj 


ii«u 


u 


44 


bnt  who  is  that,"  her  ffather  can  say/ 
'^  thai  soe  prioilye  knowes  that  pinn  ^  P  *' 
its  Hellcn,  your  owne  deere  danghter,  fiather  *  ! 
I  pray  yon  rise  and  lett  me  in.** 


•  •*  noe,  by  my  hood  '  !  **  quoth  her  ffather  then, 
**  my  [h<mm»]  thoast  •  nencr  come  within, 
Without  I  had  mj  red  gold  againe.*' 


but  won't  M 
herinUU 
•Im  brtaga 
twckhls 
gold. 


U^ 


44 


H»«» 


nay,  your  gold  is  gone,  ffather !  **  said  shcc.* 
^*  tlicrn  naked  thoa  came  into  this  world, 
and  naked  thou  shalt  rutume  againe.'* 


"  nay  !  god  fforgaue  hiH  death,  father  !  '*  shee  sayes, 

*•  A  soe  I  ho|)e  you  will  doe  raee.** 
**  away,  away,  thou  cursed  woman  !  H« 

I  pray  god  an  ill  death  thou  may  dye! *'  [pn(*sm] 


She  M^  it*« 


44 


'   h«  o<*  o'rr,     P. 


•  !o  Mr  -  V 

•  pou'    r'io(«f«  rc4.  i.  p.  219, 1.  38. 

V 


•  O  no,  O  no,  I  will  Dot  rifr.— P. 
'  K««l.— P. 

•  my  Hua«r  tl^ia. — P. 

•  o  |«nlao.  fmrdon  m^,  »b«>  witm. 
Fur  aU  jour  rvd  gM  it  it  tArn. 


B3 


P. 


I 


332 


Ili-r  hi-.irt 
luir-!-.  .Ill- 1 

ikaJ. 


In  th«* 

ni'irniiit;  hi-r 
fatlur 


TOUNOE  ANDREW. 


shec  stood  soe  long  quacking  on  the  ground 
112         till  *  her  hart  itt  burst  *  in  three, 

&>  then  shcc  fiell  dead  downe  in  a  swoond ; 
&  this  was  the  end  of  this  bonny  Ladje. 

it  lie  morning  when  her  ffather  gott  •  vpp, 
lie         a  pittyffull  sight  there  he  might  see  ^ ; 

his  owuc  deere  daughter  was  dead^  w/thout**  Clothes! 
they  teares  they  trickeled  fast  ffrom  his  eye ; 


llo  «'ur^.i» 
III!*  lovi-  uf 


Rais,  **  fyc  of  gold,  and  ffye  of  ffeo  !  ^ 
120         for  I  sett  soe  much  by  my  red  gold 

ihat  now  itt  hath  lost  both  my  daughter  and  mce!' 


11  Mi»wcr  in 
frust. 


but  after  ®  this  time  ho  neere  dought  *  good  day, 
but  as*®  flowers  doth  fade  in  the  ffrost, 
124     800  he  did  wast  &  wearo  away. 


A'  to  younf 
Andrew, 


he  li:iilii't 
L'<-n*-  luilf  a 
mill-  int«> 


but  let  vs  leaue  talking  of  this  Ladye, 

&  talke  some  more  of  young  Andrew,** 
tfor  ffalse  he  was  to  this  bonny  Ladye  ; 
lis         more  pitty  thai  itt  had  *'  not  beene  true. 

he  was  not  gone  a  mile  into  the  wild  forrest,*' 

or  halfo  a  mile  into  the  hart  of  wales, 
but  there  they  cought  him  by  such  a  braue  wyle 
1M2         that  heo  must  come  to  tell  noe  more  tales. 


'  until.— 1\ 
»  truly.    V. 

•  n)so. —  P. 

•  nii^ht  he  sco. — P. 

•  thon*  lay  dfivd. — P. 

•  anj^  fi)ll()\r8  in  tlio  MS.,  and  is 
cr«^ss«*<i  out.  -  -F. 

'  0  fy«'  ()  fyi*  n«)W  on  my  pold 
()  fve  on  gold  &  fye  on  fee. — P. 

■  Thus  huvinj^  lost  his  daughter  fair, 
Hr  after  &c.— P. 

•  dought — A.-S.  dugan,  valere,  hinc 
doht'uj  Siix.  i.  e.  doughty,  fortis,  strcnus. 
Gloss,  ad  O.  Doug!  —P. 


••  [insert]  the P. 

*'  And  ouco  more  tell  of  young  An* 
dr«^w. — P. 
"  he  had.— P. 

"  Ue  scorso  was  from  this  Lady  gone. 

or 
As  he  did  from  this  Ladj  go 

And  thro*  the  forest  past  his  iray 
A  furious  wolf  did  him  beset 
And  there   this  perjured  kiuy^t 
did  slay. — ^P. 
And  tow'rd  the  woods  had  gang'«i 
away. — ^P. 


I 


roUNOI  ANDRKW.  333 

fTall  Hoonc  a  wolfe  did  of  him  smelly  before  a 

&  Mhce  came  roaring  like  a  bearo,  attacked 


A  gaping  like  a  ffeend  of  hell ; 

M     too  they  ffoaght  together  like  2  Lyons  [there],* 
A  fire  lietwecne  them  2  glaflhet  out ; 
the  raaght  echo  other  such  a  great  rappe, 

tkiti  there  yoang  Andrew  was  slaine,  well  I  wott.  kiiM  him, 

•A     bat  *  now  young  Andrew  he  is  dead  ; 

bat  he  won  neaer  baryed  vnder  mold ; 
for  ther  aa  the  wolfe  devoured  him, 

there  *  lyeti  all  thin  great  erles  gokL  op* 

ffins. 

Prrrj  hjM  Adtlrd  /im*.  Aod  maikt»\  *  And.— P. 

liB*  M  put  of  the  Ter«e  abuT«.—  F.  *  And  there  te. — P. 


*0Ttj  hMM  m*ritf«l  in  rr«l  ink  hnckHa,  point,  I^dje,  1.  71. 

<imiMiuii,  thr  following  vttnU  or  putj  this  bonjr  weneh,  1.  87. 

Tp  of  Tpon,  1.  84,  80,  29. 

M,  I.  112.  In  lint*  H  he  mArlu  aJd  nf%irr  to  be 

a.  '/  nt  Q«r.  I.  141.  tmn^puetd  to  nrurr  cttid.    In  other  poemii 

f^rhi-r,  I.  In7.  I  htixv  n<>t  n<>tic«<«l  tht*e«*  n^l  ink  niarkM. 

\  Qf.  I   '.'*.  Th<*T  wouM  liavc  Nwellnl  thit  mrftii  tfio 

d«^n.  1   \f(i.  mtii'h.  and  thore  arv  plenty  of  Perry't 

in  </iD*o.  1.  U2.  .iltcrntions  alnmlj. 
with.  1.  71 


334 


9  :  itgge  i^ 

^  A  Jia,'^  says  Nares,  ^  meant  anciently  not  only  a  meny  dnce, 
but  merriment  and  humour  in  writing,  and  particidarly  a  balbi 
Thus  when  Polonius  objects  to  the  Player^s  speech,  HamU 
sarcastically  observes, 

He's  for  t^jigg  or  a  tale  of  bawdry  or  he  sleeps. — (HamL  ii.  2.) 

He  does  not  mean  a  dance  (which  then  players  did  not  under- 
take), but  ludicrous  dialogue  or  a  ballad.  ...  In  the  Harleiaa 
collection  of  old  ballads  are  many  under  the  title  of  jigs;  n 
*  A  Northern  Jige,  called  Daintie,  come  thou  to  me,'  '  A  m&tj 
new  Jigge  or  the  pleasant  Wooing  between  Kit  and  Pegge,'  4c 
So  in  the  Fatal  Contract  by  Hemmings, 

We'll  hear  jonrjigg : 
How  is  your  ballad  titled  ?— (Act  iv.  sc  4.) 

Thus: 

A  small  matter!  you  11  find  it  worth  Meg  of  Westminster,  although  it  be  bat  a 
bare  jig. — (Hog  hath  lost,  &c.     0.  PL  vi.  385.) 

It  appears  that  this  jig  was  a  ballad." 

The  following  specimen  of  the  Jig  Dialogical  is  a  sort  of 
vulgar  reproduction  of  the  Nut^Brmon  Maid.  The  mode  and 
circumstances  of  life  depicted  in  the  original  ballad  had  passed  out 
of  date ;  the  old  order  had  given  place  to  a  new.  A  new  audience- 
new  chronologically,  new  socially — demanded  a  new  version— a 
"  people's  edition,"  so  to  speak.  Tlie  lover  who  here  tests  his 
mistress  is  no  knight,  but  a  common  soldier;  the  mistress  is 
no  highborn  lady,  but  a  common  woman.  And  these  personal 
changes  are  characteristic  of  the  others  which  the  old  ballad  has 
undergone,  to  take  its  present  shape.     No  such  transmutations 

*  Pepys,  iv.  42.    A  Poetical  Dialogue  between  a  Soldier  &  his  Mistress,  not  un- 
like the  Nut-brown  Maid. — P. 


A   JIOGE. 


335 


re  likely  to  be,  from  a  literary  point  of  view,  sucoeasful.  This 
»De  i«  not.  Bat  the  beauty  of  the  original  is  too  great  to  be 
Jtogt'ther  defttroyed,  however  rude  the  hands  that  handle  it. 
k>mething  of  the  charm  of  the  Nut-Brovm  Maid  lingers  around 
bis  Jig. 

Other  handlers  of  the  old  ballad  turned  it  to  a  religious  sense. 
$ee  the  New  Noibrmcne  Mayd  upon  the  Passion  of  Christ  in 
dr.  Hazlitt*s  Early  Popular  Poetry  of  England. 


700. 


"  MaHGRETT,  my  sweetest  margett !  I  must  goe !      }^[S^ 
most  dero  to  mce  thai  neoer '  may  be  soe ; 
as  ffbrtane  willos,  I  can  not  t  itt  deny.** 
4    *'  then  know  thy  looe,  thy  Margarott,  shee  must  dye.**  ^ 


ni 


^  Not  ttor  the  gold  thai  cuer  Cra^ssos  hadd, 
wold  I  once '  lee  thy  sweetest  lookcs  soe  fade  ; 
nor  '  ffbr  all  thai  my  eyes  did  cuer  ^  see, 
s    wold  I  once  part  thy  sweetest  lone  from  mee ; 

**  The  Kin^  comands,  it  I  most  to  the  warrcs.** 
"  th(*ni  *  (ithem  more  enow  to  end  those  cares." 
•*  but  I  am  one  spfKjinted  ffor  to  goe, 
I  i    «!:  I  djLTe  not  ffor  my  liffe  once  say  noe," 

'*  O  nimiTy  niit%  St  you  may  stay  att  home  ! 
ffull  iP>  wwki-<»  y*m  know  M«it  I  am  pjne.*" 
'•  theres  time  enough  ;  another  ffuther  take  ; 
m;     hcele  loue  thee  well,  A  not  thy  child  forsake.'* 

*•  And  haae  I  tlot***!  ou»»r  thy  Bweetet*t  flface  'r 
A  ihmi  infrin^  the  thin^H  I  haue  in  chaM% 
thv  fTuith,  I  meane  f   but  I  will  wt-iid  with  thee." 
»     •*  III  ill  to  ffar  ffor  PevT  to  goe  w«th  iiitv.** 


Not  for  Um 
morld  woold 
I  mftkejOQ 


liot  I  nofft 


and  stay  ai 
bomel*- 

UH  anothpr 
fthrr  tar 
jour  cblkl. 

"KO,  IlOTf 
JOQ 

Mid  will  fn 
with  juo. 


*   Th  r^   t4  a  taAtk  likr  an  1   aiiilutlr«l 


•    U    f  \rt 


F. 

r 


•  <>nljhA!flheiiorrinth»MS      I 

•  Th.rfii  —  P. 

•  I...  with  4'hi!J.-  V. 


336 


A  JIGGE. 


ni  curry 
your  sword, 


'*  I  will  goe  wtth  thee,  mj  lone,  both  night  and  day, 
&  I  will  beare  thy  sword  like  lakyney;  Lead  the  way!"* 
"  but  wee  must  ryde,  &  will  you  ffollow  then 
24    amongst  a  troope  of  ys  ^^^ts  *  armed  men  ?  *' 


rlenn  your 


"  He  beare  thy  Lance,  &  grinde  thy  stirropp  too, 
He  rub  thy  horssc,  &  more  then  tJiat  Be  doo." 
**  but  Margrctts  fimgars,  they  be  all  to  ffine 
28    to  stand  &  waite  when  shco  shall  see  meo  dine,** 


wait  on  yon, 


"  Ho  see  you  dine,  &  wayto  still  att  jout  backe, 
lie  giue  you  wine  or  any  thing  you  Lacke.*' 
"  but  youlo  repine  when  you  shall  sec  mee  haue 
32    a  dainty  wench  that  is  both  ffine  &  braue." 


love  your 
wench, 


"  Ilo  lovo  thy  wench,  my  sweetest  loue,  I  vow,  Cpa€«»* 
Ho  watch  the  time  when  shee  may  pleasure  you !  ** 
"  but  you  will  grecuo  to  see  vs  lye  in  bedd ; 
36    &  you  must  watch  still  in  anothers  steede." 


HTc  yon  slecT) 
with  her, 


"  Tie  watcli  my  louo  to  see  you  take  yowr  rest ; 
4?  when  you  slecpe,  then  shall  I  thinke  me  blest.*' 
"  the  time  will  come,  dcliuered  you  must  bee ; 
40    then  in  the  campe  you  will  discredditt  mee." 


and  learo 
you  before 
my  own 
baby 
comes." 
You  mufttn't 
go  with  mo. 


"  Then  I'll 
die,  lovinpr 
you  Btill.*' 

No,  I'll  stop 
with  you, 


"  He  goo  ffrom  thee  beffor  that  time  shalbee ; 
when  all  his  well,  my  loue  againe  He  see." 
"  all  will  not  some,  ffor  Margarett  may  not  goe ; 
44    then  doe  resolue,  my  loue,  what  else  to  doe." 

"  Must  I  not  goe  ?  why  then,  sweete  loue,  adew ! 
needs  must  I  dye,  but  yet  in  dying  trew ! " 
"  a  !   stay  ^  my  loue  !  I  loue  my  Margarett  well, 
48    &  heere  I  wow  ^  with  Margarett  still  to  dwell !  ** 


*  along  tho  way. — P. 

*  all.— P. 


•  Ah!  stay.— P. 

*  vow. ^P. 


A  JIOOK.  33' 

'*  Oioo  mo  thy  hand !  thy  Margarett  lines  againe !  " 

*'  hvcrcs  '  my  hand  !  He  neuer  breed  thee  paine !        ^' 


I  kime  my  lone  in  token  that  is  Boe ; 
5S    wee  wiU  be  wedd :  oome,  Margarett,  let  tb  goe.*'        ^^  ^ 

ffins. 

•  hm  ii.-P. 


:;4  E3LA3l*^iKr- 


ri 


l:  rr-Tvinz  i:t  a  wLile,  but  at  last  shown  futile  and  fatal— 
if  -irii.^'-.-  f^rrlLr?  ani  vt-t  stranger  meetings. 

Tiit  —tl  ne*:  ai  ::2.*-t  steren. 

TLrioe  ■•!  i  tL^me:^  these :  but  in  the  hands  of  this  romance-writer 
rr.:i  iv  iuvenescent. 

Such  an  uLi  :.n  lietween  mother  and  son  as  that  which  occur 
in    E/^'iif.'"'':  is   a    very   favourite   arrangement    with   the  old 
ronnntL-'ATiiers,     It  immediately  precedes  and  generally  brings 
al.H.ut  the  ai'ayvfDpiGif.     Thus  the  extremest  alarm  and  horror 
imnit-liaN.-ly  intr  ■  iuc»-*  the  extremest  delight.     Fear  and  joy  are 
brou::Lt  int'.»  tht:  closest  juxtapo>ition.   The  romance-writer  could 
cont^rivc  uf  no  more  terrible  disturbance  and  overthrow  of  the 
onirr  of  nature  than  that  fearful  conversion  of  a  mother  into  a 
witV,  a  .son  into  a  hu-ibanJ — that  ruin  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
the  ^liHie-tic  relati«»n=.     Though  bold  enough  to  describe  it  as 
possible,  an«l,  infieed,  imminent,  he  never  dares  to  let  it  actually 
c«>nie  to  j).'L<:5.     He  never  lets  the  ghastly  shade  become  a  living 
thinir.     The  Greek  p>ets  too  regarded  this  same  connection  as 
tlie  cul minuting  h^jrror.     In  their  eyes,  too,  conflicts  between 
father  and  sun,  love  other  than  pious  between  son  and  mother, 
appeared  the  most  frightful  of  all  possible  frightfulnesses.     But 
they  went  furtlier  than  the  old  romance-writers.     They  were  not 
content  with  the  apprehension  ;  they  did  not  shrink  from  the  act. 
What  in  the  romances  is  only  threatened,  is  in  the  Greek  legend 
jKrpet rated.    Hideous  possibilities  become  there  yet  more  hideous 
realities.     Eve  in  the  one  case  only  fingers  the  apple;  in  the 
other  she  plucks  and  eats  it.     Medieval   feeling  was  the  more 
delicate  and  sensitive  in  this  respect.     Its  poet  ever  averts  the 
horrible  eatastroplie.     As  the  storm  is  on  the  point  of  bursting, 
and  the  nymphs  with  wild  frantic  faces  stand  ready  to  **  shriek 
on    the    mountain,"  suddenly  the   sky   clears,   there  are  pious 
fmbracini^^s,  the  domestic  sanctities  are  preserved  and  ratified. 


BOLAMORB. 


341 


[Tart  I.] 

fw  KgUmon^  \oxcd  ChrUuboU,  and  onderiook  thrco  0eed«  of  Arms  to  win  lier.] 


IS 


l£ISUS  :  chriiit,  hcaacn  king! 
grant  vt»  all  his  dcore  blossingo, 

it  buihlo  V8  [in]  *  his  bower  * ! 
it  giao  them  [iojrc]  '  thai  wiU  hoaro 
of  Elders  thai  before  vs  were, 

thai  lined  in  great  honor.^ 
I  will  toll  yon  of  a  Knight 
/^<it  was  both  ^  hardje  &  wight, 

it  stifle  in  eneryo  stower; 
A  wher  any  decxls  of  armes  were, 
bee  wan  the  prize  wi'th  sheeld  &  speare, 

it  euer  ho  was  the  fflower. 


ChrUt,blai 


MldKiTt 

iqj  to  thoM 
that  loT«  old 
I 


rntall  JOQ 

ofaluutly 

kalcht 


w]ioalwa}« 
woo  Um 


In  Artoys  the  Knhjhi  was  borne, 
&  his  fiather  him  befome ; 
liMten ;  I  will  you  say.* 
K.     Sir  Prin5»omoun»  the  Krlo  hi^ht ; 
ii  K^^laniort?  tin*  hight  ^^ho]  Knight ' 

th'ii  curttHJUH  was  alway ; 
A  ho  wiis  for  a  man  **  vi^rament, 
7*1     With  the  Erie  was  he  Ix^nt,' 
to  none  lie  wold  say  nay.*** 


ntf  WM  bom 
In  Artojrs, 


hi*  luune 
KtfUmore; 


BUUI. 

atnl  iMTrr 


ir..     T.     io. — I*.     Imltlr,  iht  It*  r.  as 
r.!    :    I    .'7.1.  II.     K. 
).   ir-        I*. 

:.    :-.;r.        K 

\'-\        V     h.nW      T. 

I'-r  ji  imrk*  t.t  .-omt*  uftrr  thin  : 

•  -f  rhj?  h*  W4«  a  man  full  buMr 
TboTBtuo  JiS.  luu 


To  drtli^  of  Armeiv  ht  y%  wvnte. 

Wrih  thf  YAv  frf  Artan  hf  y»  Irnto, 

Ilf  favhth  bym  n<4  nvtrht  nor  dajr. 

'  Sir  i'Vlnm'*  than  h\tfHt  tho  ko.^irht. 
—  I*.  )^\r  K^'lUmovrt*  men  callo  tl.o 
knv«.     T. 

•  And  U^t  he  wiw  tt  man.  —  I*. 

•  li*nt«'.     I*.     h«*  j%  It'nti*.     T. 

*•  T«»  n*»  man  he  woMf. — I*.     T.  haa: 

WhvUe  the  rrle  hiul  him  in  hohir, 
Of  (l«-<lro  (rf  amiri*  ho  waa  bvlde. 
Fur  no  maa  teydc  ha  najr. — K. 


340  EOLAMORE. 

and  prevailing  for  a  while,  but  at  last  shown  futile  and  &tal- 
of  strange  partings  and  yet  stranger  meetings. 

Full  tme  it  is,  by  god  in  heaven. 
That  men  meet  at  unset  steren. 

Thrice  old  themes  these ;  but  in  the  hands  of  this  romance-writa 
made  juvenescent. 

Such  an  union  between  mother  and  son  as  that  which  oocms 
in   Eglavwre  is   a  very   &vourite  arrangement    with  the  dd 
romance-writers.     It  immediately  precedes  and  generaUy  brings 
about  the  avarYvdpuris.     Thus  the  extremest  alarm  and  h<OTir 
immediately  introduce  the  extremest  delight.     Fear  and  joy  lie 
brought  into  the  closest  juxtaposition.   The  romance-writer  coold 
conceive  of  no  more  terrible  disturbance  and  overthrow  of  fte 
order  of  nature  than  that  fearful  conversion  of  a  mother  into  a 
wife,  a  son  into  a  husband — that  ruin  of  the  most  beautiiiil  d 
the  domestic  relations.     Though  bold  enough  to  describe  it  as 
possible,  and,  indeed,  imminent,  he  never  dares  to  let  it  actually 
come  to  pass.     He  never  lets  the  ghastly  shade  become  a  living 
thing.     The  Greek  poets  too  regarded  this  same  connection  as 
the  culminating  horror.     In  their  eyes,  too,  conflicts  between 
father  and  son,  love  other  than  pious  between  son  and  mother, 
appeared  the  most  frightful  of  all  possible  {rightfulnesses.     Bat 
they  went  further  than  the  old  romance-writers.     They  were  not 
content  with  the  apprehension  ;  they  did  not  shrink  from  the  act 
What  in  the  romances  is  only  threatened,  is  in  the  Greek  legend 
perpetrated.   Hideous  possibilities  become  there  yet  more  hideous 
realities.     Eve  in  the  one  case  only  fingers  the  apple;  in  the 
other  she  plucks  and  eats  it.     Medieval  feeling  was  the  more 
delicate  and  sensitive  in  this  respect.     Its  poet  ever  averts  the 
horrible  catastrophe.     As  the  storm  is  on  the  point  of  bursting, 
and  the  nymphs  with  wild  frantic  faces  stand  ready  to  "  shriek 
on   the   mountain,"  suddenly  the   sky   clears,    there  are  pious 
embracings,  the  domestic  sanctities  are  preserved  and  ratified. 


■OLAMORB. 


341 


[Part  I.] 

[„«  K^Uaun*  lured  Chmubell,  and  undritook  thnv  Deed*  uf  Arau  to  win  lier.] 

1 

iFLSUS  :  Christ,  hcanen  king! 
grant  vs  all  bin  dcoro  blcasingc, 
&  huilile  VB  [in]  '  his  bower  * ! 
4     &  giac  them  [ioye]  '  thui  will  hcarc 
of  Klders  thai  before  vs  were, 

thai  lined  in  great  honor.^ 
I  will  tell  yon  of  a  Knight 
n     that  was  both  *  hardy e  A  wight, 
&  stifle  in  euerye  stower; 
A  wher  any  deeds  of  armes  were, 
hee  wan  the  prize  with  sheeld  <fc  spean*, 
1 1        A  euer  ho  was  the  fflower. 


ChrKblcM 


MldKiTt 

y>7  to 

that  loT«  «ild 
I 


nitellfoa 

ofaluutly 

knifhi 


wboalwij* 
von  the 
prfae. 


I'. 


?•! 


In  Artoys  the  Kni*jhi  was  borne, 
A  his  fTutlier  him  befonie ; 

li!*t4*n ;  I  will  you  say.* 
J^^'r  PrinhOiiit»iin*  the  Krlo  hi^ht ; 
A  Fl^Ianuirt'  thr  higlit  [i\iv]  Knight^ 

th'ii  ourttMUH  wjw  ulwuy ; 
A  lie  w:iM  f(ir  a  niun  "  vcniment. 
With  the  Erie  wan  he  U'lit,^ 

to  none  he  woKl  say  nay.*** 


He  WMbom 
In  ArtfUjrv, 


hi*  nAme 
K«{I«iiiorr ; 


DIM1. 

aiKl  nrrrr 
flirht. 


.-..     T      ia.  —  I*.     Hii!  !«*,  *htlti  r.  •» 

.  J     :.  1  11     F 

IV 
y    \-        I       }'»rr.      V. 

•      -     r 

I'      Ur\y      T. 
I'.-  }  :.  irk*  t«i  i'l.nw  .\(\vr  thi*  : 

I    f  ri:*'  }.»   'm  %%  X  nun  full  U*Mt 
1:.  ^    .•!.••!  ti-  it>Kht  ^  iIjij. 
Tb<jrau«  M.S.  baa 


To  di^l***"  «'f  arnica  hr  rn  wrnl*', 
\V\-th  ih"   l'>Ir  '»f  Ana«i  hr  v*  U-nt*-, 
n«-  fi*vl\th  hyni  n*4  nttrht  n«»r  tln^rr. 
'  Sir  I'VUm'' tlun  h\irht  thr  knv^ht. 
I*.     Svr    K|:vUiitii«»vn*  mrn  i*allv  il  «• 
knvit.     T. 

•  .\m«I  fi'r  )iv  w\^  «  niAn.  —  IV 

•  liiitf      IV     hi-  V*  li nttv     T. 

••  1  »•  no  nun  hr  woMi . — IV     T.  hai» . 

\Vh\llf>  the  rrli*  hA«l  him  iu  h<*lili', 
( >f  ai-«l«-«  i)f  arnit-*  he  va«  l*ultlv. 
Fur  Du  Dtan  wryde  Im  na;.— K. 


342 


EGLAUOBE. 


TheBarl  of 
Artoy* 
hAN  A  level  J 
daughter. 


ChrUtabell, 


BgUmorc 
loveH  her, 


the  Erie  had  noe  Cliild  bnt  one, 
a  maiden  as  white  as  whalles  bone,* 
24        that  his  right  hejre  shold  bee ; 
Christabell  was  the  Ladyes  name ; 
a  fiairer  maid  then  shee  was  ane 
was  none  '  in  christentye. 
28    Christabell  soe  well  her  bore ; 
the  Erie  loued  nothing  more 

then  his  daughter  firee  ; 
soe  did  that  gentle  knight 
Z'2     that  was  soe  fnll  of  might ; 
it  was  the  more  pittye. 


and  she 
loTuhitn. 


Btrmngo 
lonlsoomc 
to  woo  her. 


A  tonmey  is 
held, 


and 

Kglamnm 
unhorMw  all 
her  auitorit. 


3 

the  knight  was  both  hardy  &  snell, 
&  knew  the  ladye  loued  him  well. 
36         listen  a  while  &  dwell : 

Lords  came  firom  many  a  Land 
her  to  hane,  I  ynderstand. 
With  flforce  flfold  *  and  ffell. 
40     S/r  Prinsamonre  then  did  crye 
strong  lusting  &  tumamentrye  * 

for  the  lone  of  ChristabeU. 
what  man  that  did  her  crane, 
44     such  stroakes  Eglamore  him  gane, 
that  downo  right  he  ffell. 


Ho  opcnR  hia 
heart  to  his 
chamber- 
lain, 


to  his  chamberlaine  ®  then  gan  he  saw,* 
"  ffrom  thee  I  cann  hydo  nought  away," 
48         (where  they  did  together  rest  ^  ;) 
"  ffaire  ffrand,  nought  to  laine, 
my  counccll  thou  wold  not  saine ; 
On  thee  is  all  my  trust." 


[p< 


*  ivory. — F.     as  faire. — T. 

"^  not. — P.    Tlier  was  none  soche.—  T.       See  squ 


•  feno  folke.— T. 

*  Syr  KpyllamoTVTe  he  dud  to  crj'o 
Of  dedes  of  aiiuys  utterly. — T. 


*  equ^er,    (with    altered    lincj 
$ee  squicr,  st.  9.  I.  Ill  below. — F 

•  sav.— P. 


say. 
'  rest— P. 
the  MS.— F. 


Bell  altered  into 


EOLAMORE. 


343 


ru     '*  Ma#<cT,"  hco  said,  "  p<»r  ma  fay, 
wltat-socuer  joa  to  mo  say, 

I  shall  itt  ncaer  oat  cast" 
**  tbo  Erics  daughter,  soe  g^  mo  sauc, 
56     tho  knio  of  her  but  thai  I  hauo, 
mj  lifib  itt  may  not  Last.*' 


be 
■haUdle 
tmksM  he 
can  win 
ChriitabeU'a 
lor«. 


641 


f.4 


r  •» 


•*  Ma#/*T,"  said  the  young  man  ffret*, 
**  yuu  hauc  told  mo  your  priuityo  ; 

I  will  giue  you  answero 
to  this  tale :  I  vnderstand 
you  are  a  knight  of  litle  Land, 

k  much  wold  haue  moro ; 
If  I  shoUl  to  thai  Ladyc  goo 
&  fthow  your  hart  h  loue, 

Hhec  lightlyo  wold  let  me  fare ; 
tlie  man  thai  heweth  ouer  hye, 
iKiuio  chipp  ffalloth  on  his  eye  ; 

thuji  doth  it  eucr  faro. 


bcrtftla 


that 

BffUmon  U 
too  poor, 

theladj 
wookla't 
liatrnio 
him; 


tbOM 

beviBf  too 
hlnhgvi 
chipi  Ib 
thforffjo. 


:/ 


»*» 


**  n'momlwr  M'm/'T,  of  one  thing,* 
th'ii  hhec  wuld  hauo  both  Erie  ii  Kht*j^ 

A  many  a  bold  Darrun  alsoe  ; 
the  I.«aiiye  will  h»ue  none  of  those, 
but  in  her  maitlcnhead  hold  ;  * 
fTor  wint  her  flather,  by  beauen  K/#i;/, 
th'ii  you  wen*  s*'tt  on  such  a  thin;ris 

riirht  deore  itt  Mhold  l>e  Imu^ht. 
trow  yee  Mhee  wold  King  ffontake, 
A,  ^xxvh  a  simple  knight  take, 

but  if  you  liauo  loued  her  of  old  ?  '* 


Bat  yrt  iIk* 
rrtrxme*  h»r 
rich  suitur-. 


amAthmi 

Bl'i4  itr  f'  r 


-ir.     *hAn     a".)^ -thftoko    on    ih%* 
:J       T 

nt  «il>  %-h*  n-A  lufi*  of  th«j*i, 
Uot  ;a  fpA^nm  hnr  buldyth  ou. 


Tbf  whirh  J  triiwr  y*  f;r  thy  lol.' 
ant!  DO  Diii      T. 
T.     aW»     timatpuoM    iIm    ormt    t«>i 
tri|4rU.-F. 


344 


SGLAMOBB. 


Sluroover, 


in  deeds  of 
anna 

BgUmorcU 
worth  any 
fire  other 
knighti. 


EfdMnoro 
gooetohis 
room. 


and  prays 
God 


to  frire  him 
ChristatK'U 
as  his  wifo. 


the  knight  answerd  fiiill  mild : 
"  caer  aince  I  was  a  Child 
thou  hast  beene  loaed  of '  mee. 
b4     in  any  iusting  or  any  stower, 
saw  yon  me  hane  any  dishonor 

in  battell  where  I  hane  bee  ?  " 
"  Nay,  Ma^fer,  att  all  rights 
88    yon  are  one  of  the  best  knights 
in  all  Ghristentye ; 
in  deeds  of  armes,  by  god  aline, 
thy  body  is  worth  other  5." 
92         "  gramercy,  Sir,"  sayd  hee  : 

8 
Eglamore  sighed,  &  said  noe  more, 
but  to  his  Chamber  gan  hee  fibre, 
tJiai  richelye  was  wrought. 
96     to  god  his  hands  he  held  vp  soone, 
"  Lord  I  "  he  said,  '*  grant  me  a  boone 

as  thou  on  roode  me  bought ! 
the  Erles  daughter,  fifaire  &  fiEree, 
100     that  shee  may  my  wifife  bee, 

fibr  shee  is  most  in  my  thought ; 
that  I  may  wed  her  to  my  wiffe, 
&  in  Icy  to  lead  our  Iiffe ;  * 
104        from  care  then  were  I  brought." 


Next  day  he 


•'o#>fln't  go 
to  dine  in 
Hall. 

ChriKUbcll 
a-'ka  whoro 
hois. 


lOd 


9 

on  the  morrow  that  maiden  small 
cato  with  her  fiather  in  the  hall, 

that  was  soe  faire  &  bright, 
all  the  knights  were  at  mcate  sane  hee  ; 
the  Ladye  said,  "  for  gods  pittye ! 

where  is  Sir  Eglamore  my  Knight? 


•  lente  wyth.— T. 


*  and  sethen  rcches  in  my  life. — T. 


EOLAMORB.  S45 

his  flqaicr  answerd  with  hcanje  cheero, 
lis     '*he  b  sicke,  k  dead  ffull  noere,  "Het* 

he  pimjeth  jou  of  a  sight ;  •^JET^  ** 

ho  18  now  cast  in  such  a  care, 

bat  if  he  mends  not  of  his  fare 
116         he  liaeth  not  to  night." 


10 

the  Erie  mto  his  daughter  spake,  tim  ivi 

^  damsell,'*  he  said,  "  for  god  sake  ChrkuiiNU 

liitten  vnto  mee! 
ISO    afler  me,  doe  as  I  thee  hend ;  * 
to  his  chamber  see  thou  wend, 

fibr  hee  was  curteons  h  ffree ; 
flail  trulje  with  his  intent,  [Fafiivn  who 

IS4     with  lasting  k  in  Tamament, 
he  said  vs  neuer  naj ; 
if  any  deeds  of  armes  were, 

he  wan  the  prize  with  tumay  '  cleere ;  ^^^  aiwajt 

lis         our  worahippe  for  eoer  and  aye.*'  ^Z^ 

11 
then  afler  meate  thai  liadye  gent  Ait»  HaO. 

did  afllcr  her  fathers  comandemcnt,' 
fdiM*  basked  her  to  wend. 
139     forth  iihee  went  wi'thouten  more, 

for  nothing  wold  fihee  spare,  Chrisuten 

bat  went  there  as  hee  Lay.^ 
"  Moir/rr,**  said  the  sc|aier,  **  be  of  good  cheere,       «omio 
I M     heero  oometh  the  Eries  daughter  decre. 
Mime  words  to  you  to  say.** 


•   A^'t  ia<^#  «3i>Tr  ii»  hrn-le,     T.     H»*  •  juni«»T.— T. 

i".  f  n.Atr*  .t.  i  1.  I    r.»y.     IJul  •  aftrr  •  Only'hnlf  the  ftmt  •  io  the  MS.— F. 

m»v  tD«-%4a.  >  Y  m\  tlir»^"ti«»n.  «ir«-  I.  •  T.  imtii  in  thrw  lio*^  in  whn-h  Chn»- 

'                                       *               *  * 

'^"'V^  I  tin  iyj4   ko'fV  kemd  in  th*-  tAlirll  aaIui  Uk}  future  how  KfUnurr  w, 

^.•m '4  u\l,  huL-y .  — F. 

ToL.    If.                                                        A  A 


346 


MULMOBB. 


andMks 
how  heU. 


"  Djlng  for 
lore  of  jou.** 


"PmTcry 
■orry  to 
griere  jocl' 


**  Then  be 
my  wife." 


IS 

&  then  said  that  Ladje  bri^ht^ 
*'  how  &reth  Sir  I^Iamore  mj  Knigkt, 
140         that  is  a  man  right  f^dre  ?  " 

**  forsoothe,  Ladye,  as  jon  may  see, 
wtih  woe  I  am  bound  for  the  lone  of  jee, 
in  longing  &  in  care." 
U4     "  Sir,"  shee  said,  "  by  gods  pittye, 
if  yon  be  agrreeued '  ffor  mee^ 

itt  wold  greene  me  full  sore  !" 
*^  damsell,  if  I  might  tnme  to  lific, 
148     I  wold  haue  yon  to  my  wifiTe, 
if  itt  yottr  will  were." 


"  Ton're  • 

noblo 

knight, 

and  manfol 
inflghk 


Afikmy 
father, 


and  if  he 
agrees, 


IwiU/» 


13 

*'  Str,"  shee  said,  *^  soe  mote  I  thee, 
you  are  a  Noble  Knight  and  ffiree, 
152         &  come  of  gentle  blood ; 

a  manfnll  man  you  are  in  fifeild 
to  win  the  gree  with  speare  &  sheeld 
nobly  by  the  roode  ; 
166     S/r,  att  my  fiather  read  yon  witt,* 
&  see  what  hee  will  say  to  itt ; 

or  if  his  will  bee  good, 
&  if  tJiat  hee  be  att  assent, 
160    as  I  am  true  Ladie  &  gent, 
my  will  it  shalbe  good." 


Eglamore  is 
in  bliss, 


164 


14 


the  K-ui/jht  desired  noe  other  *  blijsso 
when  he  had  gotten  his  grantessc,^ 

but  made  royall  *  cheero ; 
ho  comanded  a  Sqiuor  to  goe 


»  Tho  rr  is  much  like  u  in  the  MS.—  F. 

'  T.  makes  the  lady  take  the  'Ask 
Papa'  on  herself,  and  when  they  are 
agreed,  she'll  not  fail  Eglamore. — F. 


■  kepte  no  more. — T. 

*  geton  graunt  of  thys. 

*  hur  f  ulle  gode. — T. 


BQLUfORS.  347 

to  ffeitch  ffold,  a  100  '  or  towo,  sBd  fHw 

a  firiao  the  '  Maidoxu  cleere.  oMidcaa 

IM    Bi'r  Eglamore  said,  '* soe  haae  I  blisae  I 
to  your  marriage  I  giae  yoa  this, 

ffbr  jee  nener  como  heero  jore.*' 
tbo  Lady  then  thanked  &  kissed  the  Knight ;  ChriMabeU 

17S    shec  tooke  her  Icaae  anon-right^ 


«• 


farwell,  my  tmo  sonno  decre.*' ' 


15 
then  homeward  shoe  tooke  the  way.^  mm  bMk  to 

"  welcome !  "  sayd  the  Erie,  "  in  flay,  ^  '■^' 

1*6        tell  mee  how  haue  yee  doone. 

say,  my  daoghter  as  white  as  any  floweri 
how  ffareth  my  knight  Sir  E^lamore  P  " 
&  ahee  answered  him  soone:  _..^  ^ 

im)    '•  ffbraooth,  to  mee  he  hartilye  sware  mmmw  is 

he  was  amended  of  his  care,  vi**»  •^ 

good  comfort  hath  hee  tane  ; 
he  told  me  it  my  maidens  hende, 
i(M     that  hec  mto  the  riaer  wold  wend  umi  y  going 


oat 


With  hoonds  <fc  hawkes  right.**  hawkiaf. 

16 
the  Eric  said,  **  soo  Mote  I  thco, 
With  him  will  I  ryde  thai  sight  to  see, 
i!*%         to  make  my  liart  more  light.**  * 

on  the  morrow,  when  itt  was  day,  K«t«kjr 

8i"r  Eglamoru  tooke  the  way  Bfta»or» 

to  the  riaer  fftiU  right. 
I  >i     the  Erie  made  him  redye  there,  mmI  Um  lari 

A  both  rode  to  they  riucr  ^••^ 


'   A.%  1  tAk#  AH  haiiJttrd  ik/vdJ.— T.  *  Cr^-vtjmlirUe   hath   Ukjo   hor  waj. 

»   Kuf— T.  -  T. 

•  A*d  trTxU  *  FarwtUc  mj  ftrv.'— T.  *  Fur  efmdmtm  tji  thst  kBjrsiit.-T. 

aaS 


348 


BGLAKOBS. 


pteamnt 
locvClMir* 


196 


to  800  some  ffaire  fBighL 
all  the  J  day  €bey  made  good  cheere 
a  wrath  began,  as  jou  may  heare, 

long  ere  itt  was  ni^ht.^ 


Bnteomlng 
home, 
EfflaDiore 
Mluif  the 
Earl  wUl 
him. 


"Oertainlj, 

I  like  to 
hear  joa: 


C*rothe 
(kniKfat 
InthebukL" 


"When  wlU 
your 

danghter  be 
beirotholf'* 


17 

as  they  rode  homeward  in  the  way. 
Sir  Eglamore  to  the  Erie  gan  say, 
SCO         "  My  lord,  wiU  yon  now  •  beare  ? 
''  all  ready,  Eglamore ;  in  fiay, 
whatsoeuer  you  to  me  say, 
to  me  itt  is  fioll  deere  ; 
204     fibr  why,  the  doaghtyest  art  then 
that  dwellcth  in  this  Land  now^, 

for  to  beare  sheeld  A  speare.*  " 
"  my  Lord,"  he  said,  "  of  charitye, 
808     Christabell  your  daughter  ffiroe, 

when  shall  shee  haue  a  ffeere  ?  ** 


19 


Cpi 


"  I  know  no 
one  whom 
■li(>  would 
have." 


•'  OIvp  her 
tome.** 


"  I  will,  and 
allArtois 
too.  if  you'll 
do  a  dncdfl  of 
arma  for 
hor.- 


"  Thank 
you  I 


18 

the  Erie  said,  *'  soe  god  me  sane, 
I  know  noo  man  thai  shee  wold  haue, 
212         my  daughter  faire  and  cleere." 
**  now,  good  hordf  I  you  pray, 
for  I  haue  serued  you  many  a  day, 
to  giue  me  her  wtthouten  nay." 
216     the  Erie  said,  "  by  gods  paine, 

if  thou  her  winne  as  I  shall  saine, 

by  deeds  of  armes  three, 
then  shalt  thou  haue  my  daughter  deere, 
220     &  all  Artois  ffarr  &  neere.** 

"  gramercy.  Sir !  "  said  hee. 


»  long  ere  night  it  were. — P. 
•  ye  me. — T. 


■  Awnturs  ferre  op  nere. — ^T. 


lOLAMORS. 


349 


19 

SA*  Eglamoro  [aware  ^],  ''soe  mote  I  tkee, 
att  mj  ioumey  '  ffaino  wold  I  be !  *' 
SS4         right  aoone  he  made  him  jaro. 
the  Erie  nud,  "  here  by  west 
dwelleth  a  Gjant  in  a  ffbrresi,— 
ffbwler  nener  saw  I  ere  ;— 
its     iherin  be  trees  ffairo  k  '  long, 
3  harta  ^  ran  them  *  amonge, 

the  fairest  thai  on  ffbot  gone. 
Sir,  might  jee  bring  one  away, 
tss     then  durst  I  boldly  say 

thai  yee  had  beene  there.** 


MOMfOtV 

work  At 


ThsBarl 


IglaiDora 
h&flni 
feat: 
togotoft 

•adfatoh 
himoiMot 
thm  harta 
nnmiiif 
abootthcnb 


SO 

*  *'  ffbrsooth,**  said  Eglamoro  then, 
^  if  thai  hce  be  a  Christyan  man, 
S3S         I  shall  him  ncuer  fforsakc.'* 
the  Erie  said  in  good  chcere, 
^*  with  him  shalt  thou  fl^ht  in  fcere ; 
his  name  is  Sir  Marroccke.** 
S40     the  KiiiV/At  thought  on  Chriiitabcll ; 
he  swore  by  him  thai  harrowed  hell, 

him  wold  he  ncuer  fTuniake. 
•*  Sir,  ki»epe  well  my  Lady  Si  my  Lan<l !  *' 
14 4     thcrto  the  Krle  held  vp  \\\i^  liand, 
&  tn>tlies  they  did  strike. 


tofalolitbt 
hart. 


andSfhl 
Uwfliint 


11^  commit^ 
C'lirisuiliHl 
Xohn 
faUwr'toare, 


21 


then  aAerwanls,  as  I  you  say. 
Sir  Eglamorc  touke  the  way 


T>.^  knrffht  •wrmi.     T. 
1\*  .   I..>k*  l.kr  a  jn  ih.-  MS.  -  F. 
I  1 J  \ir  'n^'*  thrrr  \»j\tm*-  owtr      T. 
I  .«  k  1%  i.kr  an  /  in  \h»  MS    -F. 
«.f, fr  hrrT;t«  thrrr  walki?.— T. 
f .  LaA  U»f  tills  atAiUA : 


IW»  Jh<»«u  irwfre  lh«  knjght  than, 
"  Yf  hr  !•«»  t»fiT  (^rjtttTD-nun. 

Y  arhall*-  hrm  n«Yrr  for«ak««. 
II«>1'1«*  Wf  II  riiT  la<lr  an«l  my  loa«le.'* 
••  |T«,'* ftrv.!*-  fill  «Tlr,  ••  h<»rt'  mvn  boode  !** 

lijra  tniwthe  to  hjrm  In*  fUmka. 


350 


EaLAMOBS. 


talhlMrlio 


takmttuw 
deeds  of 
arms  far 
ber. 

ChtiiUbeU 


bopeeCkWI 

WilllM 


him* 


help 


248        to  that  Ladye  soe  ffiree : 

*'  damsell,"  bee  said  to  her  anon, 
*'  ffor  your  Lone  I  hane  yndertane 
deeds  of  Armes  three." 
252     **  good  Str/'  shee  said,  **  be  meny  A  gkd ;  * 
ffor  a  worsse  lonmey  you  nener  bad 

in  noe  cbristyaa  conntzye. 
if  god  grant  firom  biB  grace 
256    that  wee  '  may  firom  that  lonmey  apace, 
god  grant  it  may  be  soe  ' ! 


SbegiTBi 
him  ft  8TQJ- 
bound 


thAtnipnll 
down  maj 

and  •  sword 


that'll  cnt 
any  helm  in 
two. 


22 

*'  Sir,  if  yon  be  on  bnnting  fibnnd, 
I  shall  yon  gine  a  good  greybonnd 
260        that  is  dnn  as  a  doe ; 

ffor  as  I  am  a  tme  genile  woman, 
there  was  nener  deere  that  be  att  ^  ran 
that  might  scape  him  fiOroe : 
264    alsoe  a  sword  I  gine  tbee, 
that  was  ffonnd  in  the  sea  ^ ; 
of  snch  I  know  noe  moe. 
if  yon  hane  happ  to  keepe  itt  weele, 
268     there  is  no  helme  of  Iron  nor  Steele 
bnt  itt  wold  came  in  2. 


EgUunore 
bidsChrUta- 
bell  good- 
bye, 


[Part  IL*] 

[How  Eglflinoro  kills  the  giant  Marrocke  and  a  big  Boar.] 

23 
Eglamore  kissed  that  Lady  gent ; 
ho  tooke  his  leane,  &  fforth  hee  went. 


'  T.  has  for  the  next  five  linos : 
For  an  hardere  fytt  never  ye  had, 

Be  God,  in  no  euntre ! 
Or  that  yurney  be  over  passyd. 
For  my  love  ye  schallo  sey  fulle  ofte 
alias! 

And  so  Bchalle  y  for  thee. 

*  ye.— P. 


•  so  bee. — P. 

•  beste  that  on  fote. — T. 

•  Seynt  Poulo  fonde  hyt  in  the 
see.— T. 

•  Part  I.  would  end  better  with 
28,  1.  341,  where  the  Thornton 
ends  its  "fnrste  fytt."— F. 


BOXJLMORK. 


351 


171    his  way  now  hath  hee  tane ; 

^The  hje  streetes  held  he  west 
till  he  came  to  tbo  fforrest ; 

flarrer  saw  he  neuer  none, 
with  trees  of  Cjpreese  Ijing  oat. 
the  wood  was  walled  round  abowt 

wi'th  strong  walles  of  stone ; 
flbrthe  he  rade,  as  I  ynderstand, 
MO  till  he  came  to  a  gate  that  ho  fiand, 

&  therin  is  he  gone. 


176 

r  Parte. 


[ptmviH] 


rMaitotht 


Itbf 


14 

his  homo  he  blew  in  that  tjdc  ; 
harts  start  rpp  on  cnery  side, 
tM         Sc  a  noble  dcere  *  flail  prcst ; 
the  hoands  att  the  deero  gan  bay. 
with  thai  heard  the  Gyant  where  he  lay; 
itt  lett  him  of  his  rest ; 
MS     **  methinkcth,  by  hoands  thai  I  heare, 
thai  there  is  one  banting*  my  deare ; 

it  were  Iwtter  thai  he  cease  •  ! 
by  him  thai  wore  the  crowne  of  ihomc, 
792     in  a  worse  time  he  ncaer  blew  a  home, 
ne  dearer  Ixjaght  a  mesAC  ^  !  '* 

15 
Marrocke  the  Gyant  tooke  the  way 
thcirrow  the  flbrrest  were  itt  Lay ; 
rM         to  the  (pite  he  sett  his  backe. 
Sir  Eglamorc  hath  done  to  dead, 


bii 

boondttajr 
Attlwtlev. 
Tbeglaal 


It' 

be  the  wonA 
btovioK  th« 
man  ever 


to 


'  T«''-?T  cl.jm  IK*  tuMr  th#-  wtird  drrr  in 
*.ik::..»  ">it  thr  Hrrt.  Now  wtI  wo 
•  k*  jt  th'  hrft  .  an*!  iip»-ke  wi»  of  hi« 
vT»«     *.iiM*  '-•>  to  taiT.  the  fvnt   v«  n»  he 

•  •  • 

*   '-alf*-,  th*-   •n'uo'lr    yefi*  «    l»n»k«-t, 
y*»r^  a  •{*_»<♦?.  !h«    nij.   yrrt*  « 


wv    '*-i'    «     ir*r»  a  fprw*  •tAtfi:.  th«    x). 

%'-*    4  *.•  f*  »t  thr  (yr%i  hrtl ;  but  that  no 

i.  r'«  t^A  I  a  joipraieot  ui  huotrr»*r.  f'«r 


the  gmt  (!j?«»rijtrthat  t«  foviMWof  hem. 
for  allfwuj  wr  caII**  of  the  fynrt    hr«l 
tjl  that  he  >>«•  of  L  of  th«  Uiwe.     /^W*^. 
vln/Kf.  i.  lAl.  — F. 
"   1  ontlur  i»  A  tb#^*  to  ftele.  —  T. 

•  He  were  wrilc  l>ettiir  to  be  at  th<» 
a*^*.     T. 

*  Nevthnr    hv»    bowe    bc4id«    in    mi 
m^nja  fio*.— T. 


enai  iLw  liead 
off. 


be  htm 


304 


riftine  a  hmrt,  &  smitten  off  his  head; 

the  prize  ^  he  blew  ffiill  shrill ; 
&  when  he  cune  where  the  gjuit  wafl^ 
"  good  Sir,"  he  sayd, ''  lett  me  passe, 

if  **at  itt  be  yowr  wilL" 
^  naj,  traitor !  thou  art  tane ! 
mjr  principall '  hart  thoa  hast  slaine ! 

thoa  shalt  itt  like  ffall  ilL'* 


ICrikMSC 


kwp  him 


hit»  ttw 
gii&nt  in  the 

biiaiitf  him. 


the  Gjant  att  the  chase*, 
a  great  clnbb  vp  hee  takes, 
SOS        that  villanoos  was  and  ^reat  ^ ; 
snch  a  stroke  hee  him  gane 
that  into  the  earth  went  his  stafie, 
a  ffoote  on  enerj  side. 
313     ''  traitor !  "  he  said,  ^  what  doest  thoa  here 
in  m J  fforrest  to  slaj  mj  deere  ? 

here  shalt  thoa  now  abjde." 
Eglamore  his  sword  oat  drew, 
316     <!:  in  his  sight  made  sach  a  shew,' 
&  made  him  blind  that  tjde. 


bat  be 

fi^o  on  for 
t«o«Lij4auJ 
more : 


then 

£t;Lunore 

kilUhim, 


27 

how-be-itt  he  lost  his  sight, 
he  ffought  w/th  Sir  Eglamore  that  Kjiiglt 
320         2  dajes  &  some  deale  more  ; 
till  the  3t  *  day  att  prime 
Sir  Eglamore  waited  his  time, 
&  to  the  hart  hiiTi  bare. 


*  And  whan  the  hcrt  is  take,  vo  ^hal 
blowo  iiij.  motvs  .  .  .  and  the  h«U  shnl  l»e 
brout  horn  to  the  lord,  and  the  skyn 
.  .  .  Than  blow  at  the  dore  of  hallo 
the  pry^te.  .  .  .  And  whan  the  buk  is 
i-take,  ye  shal  blowe  pryjw,  and  n^ward 
your  houndes  of  the  paunch  and  the 
liowellis.  Twety,  in  Be/iq.  Ant.  i.  153. 
Fr.  iVtjff  a  taking  . . .  also,  the  death  or 


fall  of  a  hunted  beast.     Cotgrare.- 
«  chefe.— T. 

*  to  the  kny;t  ys  gon. — T. 

*  mekylle  and  fulle  unweelde.— 

•  Anil  to  the  geaot  he  gafe  a 
— T.     Sou(/k,  a  stroke  or  blow.    J 
son. — F. 

•  Tylle  on  the  todur.— T. 


lOLAMORI.  353 

314    through  godfl  might,  A  his  kniffe, 
there  the  Ojant  lost  hiB  Uffe ; 

fCut  he  began  to  rore.  Mdjw 

flbr  oertaine  sooth,  as  I  joa  say, 
3ia    when  he  was  meaten '  there  he  Lay 

he  was  15  flbote  '  &  more.  Si 


th» 


through  the  might  of  god,  &  his  kniffe, 

thus  hath  the  Oyant  Lost  his  liffe ; 
331        he  maj  thanke  god  of  his  boone  I 

the  Oyants  head  with  him  hee  bare 

the  right  way  as  hee  flbond  there,  giaBt'«iMid 

till  hee  came  to  the  castle  of  stone. 

33C    all  the  whole  conrt  came  him  againe ; 

**  snch  a  head,*'  they  gan  saine, 
**  saw  they  nener  none." 

before  the  Erie  he  itt  bare,  to  tiM  iwi 

of  Ajrtojrt, 

340    **  my  Lord,"  he  said,  "  I  hane  boene  there,  Md  mjn  h* 

■Ml  DWB  to 

in  witnesse  of  yon  all  ^  ! "  tboffteBi. 

19 

the  Eric  said,  **  sith  itt  is  done,  Tbe  Sari 

Another  lonmey  there  shall  come  soone, —  [i«i*m>]  J^^^  dmi 
344         buhke  theo  &  make  thco  yare, — 

to  Sattin,  thai  *  countrye,  tofoto 

ffur  therin  may  noe  man  bco 

for  doabt  *  of  a  bore  ;  ond  Mil  • 

34fi     hui  taski*s  are  a  yard  ^  long ;  ihL«, 

what  ffli*iih  /A<it  they  doe  come  among, 
itt  couerctli  •  nener  more ; 


'  m**M,  mra^nr^--  K.  M*tie  itt  mm,  to  hare  irr  A/y», 

•  ml    f'<!r      T.  Tk^$  tft  tkf  furttf  fytt  of  tkjtM 

'   Mr    IIaII.««>11  makr«  two  Manait  of  7%at  trt  kapf  ^narriamt.-    K. 

.'%    *t '^  rh%mrlinr«  ««ninir.     F.  •  In  Sjr«|un,  in  that  nrcho.— T. 

•  i    r  iUr*.   I    339.  cvmiian}  I.  233.  •  fi-ar.     F.     dmic— T. 

r    ft.il*  (.la  tubc»):  *  foce.     T  •  riCOToi*.— F. 


354 


EGLAMORS. 


whidikniB 
ertrytidng 
ItgeUhold 
of. 


both  man  &  beast  itt  slajeth, 
352    all  that  euer  hee  oner-taketh, 
&  giueth  them  wounds  sore. 


»* 


EgUmore 
itartfl  again, 
Journeya 


fourteen 
days  over 
land  and 


and  tlien 
oomeaon 
traoeaof 
tlieboar, 


dead  men  all 
abont. 


30 

Sir  Eglamore  wold  not  game-saj, 
he  tooke  his  leaue  Sn  went  his  waj, 
356        to  his  loumey  went  hee. 
towards  Sattin,  I  vnderstand, 
a  ffortnight  he  went  on  Land, 
&  alsoe  soe  long  on  sea. 
360    itt  fiell  againe  in  the  enen  lyde, 
in  the  fibrrest  he  did  ryde 

wheras  the  bore  shold  bee ; 
&  iydings  of  the  bore  soone  hee  fibnnd ; 
364    by  him  men  Lay  dead  on  many  a  Land,' 
that  pittye  itt  was  to  see. 


Next 
looming 

he  hoars  the 
boor's  cry, 


and  soGsit 
come  from 
theaoa. 


31 

Sit  Eglamore  that  Knight  awoke,* 
&  priuilye  lay  vnder  an  oke ; 
368         till  morrow  the  snn  shone  bright, 
in  the  fibrrest  fiast  did  hee  lye  ; 
of  the  bore  he  hard  a  crye,* 
&  neerer  he  gan  gone  right. 
372     fiairo  helmes  he  fibnnd  in  fere 

that  men  of  armes  had  lefit  there, 

that  the  bore  had  slaine. 
Eglamore  to  the  clifie  went  hee, 
376     he  saw  the  bore  come  from  the  sea, 
his  mome  draught  ^  had  he  tane. 


*  The  Lawnd  in  woodes.  Saltus 
nemorum.  Baret.  Saltus,  woodland 
pasture. — F. 

*  The  last  words  of  these  lines  are 
interchanged.    T.  has : 


Syr  Egyllamowre  pestjd  hym  nodor 

oke; 
Tylle  on  the  morowe  that  he  can  mle 

*  on  the  see  he  harde  a  sowe. — T. 

*  mome  drynke. — T. 


IQLAMOBB.  355 

at 

the  bore  saw  where  the  Knight  stood^  tim  immt 

hU  tuBkes  he  whetted  aa  he  were '  wood, 
380        to  him  he  drew  thai  lyde. 


Sir  Eglamore  weened  well  what  to  doe,  him ; 


With  a  Bpeare  he  rode  him  to  rhkt  u  it, 

aa  ffaat  aa  he  might  rjde. 
M4    all  if  hee  '  rode  neaer  aoe  flfkst, 

the  good  apeare  aasnnder  braat,  but  bfwkt 

it  wold  Bot  in  the  hjde.  **"* 

Mat  bore  did  him  woe  enonirhe,  and  tiM 

SM     hia  good  horaae  vnder  him  he  alongh ;    ^  hfa 

on  flbote  then  moat  hee  bjde. 


Eglamore  saw  no  boote  th4xi  tyde,  He  putt  hit 

but  to  an  oake  he  wtt  hia  aide  <»k« 

3ys        amongat  the  treea  great ; 

his  good  Bword  he  drew  out  then, 

&  tmote  rpon  •  the  wfld  awine  S2i  tw?* 

2  dayea  &  some  deale  more ;  ^  *^** 

yj6     till  the  3^  day  att  noono 

Kclamorc  thoacrht  bin  HfTe  waa  doono  tin  be^t 

for  (Tightting  with  that  bore ; ' 
then  K^lamorc  with  Kgar  mood 
Alto     Binote  of  the  borca  head ;  kSl«*iiI* 

bin  toakca  he  emote  of  there. 

34 

*  the  Ki'i^  of  Sattin  on  banting  fare  Tte  Kiaf  of 

With  lu  armed  men  Sc  more ; 


■   7> '  tr**.  €  It  nuMie  oTiT  an  k  i&  th«  movrr  odIt  brmk  off  the  bnar'n  tiukii  in 

>*       Y  thr  privnling  itAnsa,  omiU  lior*  2,  6,  7, 

•  <tifh<'.     T.  of  thi«i.  Aiitl  hii«  here: 

•  •^.•h^uh  With  -  T.  Hr  th«DkT«l  <i««i  thut  tike  ttuWDtlc*, 

•  X'.rr  'Iav*  aotl  tmtTr,     T.  Ao*l  ^t  tKr  borp  hjf  inhy*  «imiKl« 

'  1  L«  Thuratuo  rervion  makM  1^'U-  Tbr  lioke  of  Koim  tJiM  can  t«Ue.— P. 


356 


XaLAMOBB. 


bean  the 
boar  yell, 

and  nendsa 
■qnire  to  ace 
wDo'a  in 
danger. 

TheaqniTB 


seoaEgla- 
more 

ftKhting  the 
boiur. 


404        the  bore  lend  liard  he  jell ; 
he  camanded  a  Bqnier  to  fiare, 
*'  some  man  is  in  his  perill  there ! 
I  trow  to  long  wee  dwell." 
408    no  longer  wold  the  sqiner  tarry, 
but  rode  fiist  thither,  by  S?  Maiye, 

he  was  therto  fiiill  snell '  ; 
yp  to  the  cliffe  rode  hee  there ; 
412     Str  Eglamore  ffonght  &st  wtth  the  bore  i 
with  stroakes  ffeirce  A  ffeU. 


He  tells  tho 

King  the 

boaria 

■lain 

by  a  knight 


with  a  Uae 
■hield 


and  black 
Bpore. 


35 

the  sqnier  stood  &  beheld  them  2, 
hee  went  againe  and  told  see, 
416         *'  fforsooth  the  bore  is  slaine." 

''  Lord !  S!  Mary !  how  may  this  bee  ? 
"  a  'Knight  is  yonder  certainlye 
that  was  the  bores  bane ; 
420     "  of  gold  he  beareth  a  seemly  sight, 
in  a  fieold  of  azure  an  armed  'Knight^ 

to  battell  as  hee  shold  gone  ; 
&  on  the  crest  vpon  the  head  is 
424     a  Ladje  made  in  her  likencsso  ; 
his  spares  are  sable  echo  one." 


»i 


The  King 


findg 

Eglamore 
lying  down, 


432 


36 

the  King  said,  "  soe  mote  I  thee, 
those  rich  armors  I  will  see :  " 
428         &  thither  hee  tooke  the  way. 
by  thut  time  Sir  Eglamore 
had  oucrcome  the  sharp  stoore, 
&  oucrthawrt  the  bore  Lay.* 
the  King  said,  "  god  rest  with  thee  !  " 
"  my  Lor(?,"  said  Eglamore,  "  welcome  be 


>  query  MS.  siell. — F. 


*  And  to  resto  hym  down  he  lay. — ^T. 


IQLAMORK. 


357 


434 


of  poftce  now  I  thee  praj ! 
I  hiuic  SCO  flbngbten  with  the  bore 
Mat  ocrtainljo  I  may  noe  more ; 

this  IB  the  d<  day." 


97 
thcj  all  said  anon-right, 
^*  great  sinn  itt  were  with  thee  to  ffight, 
440        or  to  doe  thee  any  teene ; 

maniTally  thon  hast  slaine  this  bore 
thiii  hath  done  hurt  sore, 

&  many  a  mans  death  hath  beene  ; 
444     thou  hast  manfully  vnder  sheeld 
slaino  this  bore  in  the  fleild, 

tkiii  all  wee  haae  seene ! 
this  haae  I  wist,  the  sooth  to  say, 
449     lie  liath  slaine  40  ^  on  a  day 

of  my  armed  knights  keene !  * 


forkillfa« 
ttebov 


tluiilMd 
•lalnw 
Buuiy 
kaigbM; 


38 

meat  Sc  drinkc  they  him  brought, 
rich  wine  tlwy  Hpared  nought, 
45i         &  white  clothes  they  spread. 
tlu»  Kin^j  said,  **Hoe  mote  I  thee, 
I  will  dine  fur  lone  of  thee  ; 
thoa  \\hsi  Ixx'n  hard  l>e8tead/* 
454     **  foHMjooth/*  then  S«'r  K^Iumore  saies, 
•*  I  haoe  ffbaght  these  4  dayes,* 
and  not  a  ffoote  him  ffledd." 
then  said  the  King,  **  I  pray  thee 
44<o     all  night  to  dwell  with  niee, 
&  rest  thee  on  a  bedd.** 


|in>  Tides  oiin 


wine; 


dtne*  with 
him. 


Md 


to 


•  Titr.  -  T. 

•  W.ilr  amiTil  men  aik!  rime. — T. 

*  Jh^  thrt€  d*j«  hATc  gfuwD  to  four 


Ni»w  hyt  Y»  tlM»  fjr»t«  day 
ThAt  rTjr  oon  foit  j  ll«dd. 


--F. 


358 


IGLAMOBS. 


Bglamora 

MUtlM 

King 

vhAthU 

luuneia. 


udtha 
Kingtellfl 
him  of  • 


A  after  meate,  the  aootihe  to  say, 
the  King  Sur  Eglamore  did  pray 
464        "  of  what  coimtiy  hee  was.*' 

<<  my  name,"  he  said,  '*  is  Sir  Eglamore  * : 
I  dwell  alsoe  with  Sir  PriyiaaTnonre, 
that  Erie  is  of  artoys." 
468    then  Lords  to  the  King  drew, 

<*  this  is  hee  that  Sir  Marroccke  slew, 

the  gyants  brother  Mamaaae.* 
'<  Str,"  said  the  King,  "  I  pray  thee 
473    these  8  dayes  to  dwell  with  mee, 
from  mee  thou  shalt  not  paaae ; 


GI«nt 
whowttiita 
toaeixc  hit 
daughter, 


and  is 

Marrocke*a 

brother. 


40 

*'  there  dwdleth  a  Oyant  here  beside ; 
my  daughter  that  is  of  micklell  pride, 
476        he  wold  haue  me  ffroe; 
I  dare  to  no  place  goe  out 
but  men  of  armes  be  me  abont^ 
for  dread  of  my  foe.* 
480    the  bore  thou  hast  slaine  here, 

that  hath  liued  here  this  15  yeero  ^ 

christen  men  for  to  sloe. 
Now  is  he  gone  with  sorrow  enough        Cp««« 
484     to  [berye  ^]  his  brother  that  thou  slougL" 
[that  eyyrmore  bo  hym  woo  !  ^] 


No  one  con 
cut  up  the 
boar 


41 


to  break  *  the  bore  they  went  ffull  tyte ; 
tlicre  was  noe  knifie  that  wold  him  bitte,' 


'  Ho  said  "Mj  name  is  Syp  Awntour." 
-T. 

*  Yondup  ys  ho  that  Arrok  slowec, 

The  yoauntys  brodur  Maras. — T. 
'  Fulle  soldome  have  y  thus  scne  soo. 
-T. 

*  He  hath  fedd  hym  xv  yore. — T. 


•  There  are  two  pages  301  in  th 
and  no  page  302.  — F. 

•  berye. — T. 

•  From  the  Thornton  MS.— F. 

•  splatt.— T. 

•  Query  MS. ;   it  may  be  iH^^ 
byte.— T. 


BOLAMORE. 


359 


4fs         0OO  hard  of  hyde  waa  hoo. 

**  Sir  ESgUmorc,'  thoa  him  slonghc ; 
I  trow  thy  sword  '  bo  good  enoagh ; 
haae  done,  I  pray  thee.** ' 

495  Egbunoro  to  the  bore  gan  gone, 
A  claao  him  by  the  ridge  ^  bone, 

thai  ioy  itt  wa«  to  see  ; 
**  Lordinga,*'  he  said,  **  great  &  small,* 

496  gioe  me  the  head,  &  take  yon  all ; 

for  why,  thai  ia  my  ffee." 

the  King  said,  ^  soe  god  me  sane ! 
the  head  thou  shalt  hane ; 
Sito        thon  hast  itt  bonght  full  deero !  *'  * 
all  the  countrye  was  fiaine, 
fur  the  wild  ^  bore  was  slainc, 
they  made  ffnll  royall  cheero. 
&04     the  Qnoene  said,  *'  god  send  *  ts  from  shame  ! 
flbr  when  the  Gyant  cometh  home, 
new  tydinga  shall  be  here.'  ** 


baiBfi*- 


whodAinfl 
o«iljhli 


Tfwptople 
biMr't 


43 

a^nunjit  encn  the  Kiri^  did  dight 
s^H     a  bath  (Tor  thui  gentle  Kni'y/it, 


•  Srr  AwTJt/mr,  »rjcir  the  kvng. — T. 

•  kljU  -  T. 

•  4fjif  !hAt  thr  wvll**  >-^.     T. 

•  A  -Sfti.  krt<y,  nty.  lh«'  b«fk.  -  F. 

•  I^'f*!' ,  Mp^da  thr  kA)ght,  3r  dud  hjm 
*:,'       T. 

•  Kfitir  nutr*  cmn  they  •rodf» ; 
A^"TO   m^oe  h*itnf   «ith   that   thty 

TS'  «tt^  vft*  thrm  nrrr.     T. 

•  w.k%  1  -  T. 

•  -*-}./l.!«'      T. 

•  pw^*r  mr  9t,nr.     T  .ami  it  ftdds.  p.  14 J 
^   f  L.  j»  •i:r"fi^»  and  vtuvte, 

Lr.  1  th«Tu#  jr  kuT«  B<kjlle  duwtr 
Pia£  ^^  wirllc  do  a*  griic  d«?ft>  or  vc 
La  re  dotkc. 


XLT. 

Svr  £g;}'lUmown«,  that  DobjUe  koTft, 
NV»»     lutt    with    the    kjog««    doghtyr 
^ryght. 

For  that  he  ikcbolde  he  bljthe. 
Thtf     majdeiije     name    vma    Orgmnatii 

•o  f rv ; 
S:\iv  ppryeth  hym  of  gude  chere  to  her, 

And  l^«eechvd  bjm  so  many  a  ■jtho. 
Aftar  niet««  m-he  can  hrm  telle 
How  that  g«aiit  wokle  them  ijaelle : 

The  knvtrht  began  to  la^h  anone ; 
"  iHtnrvehf,**  he  •rvde.  •'•u  mote  j  thto. 
All* I  he  1*^1111'  wbjUe  y  hrrv  \tt^\ 

Y  •challt  h jm  Msay  tone !  ** 


360 


SaUkMOBB. 


Eglamora 
lies  in  a 
bathaU 
niffht. 


512 


that  was  of  Erbes  ^  good. 
Sir  Eglamore  tiherin  Lay 
till  itt  was  light  of  the  day, 

that  men  to  Mattins  '  yode. 


[Part  in.*] 

[How  Eglamore  killB  another  Giant,  and  a  I>nigon  near  Borne,  es 

begets  a  Boj  on  Christabell.] 


Kflxt 
moming 
the  Giant 


anddemaodi 
theKing'a 
daughter 
Arnada. 


Bglamoxe 


tells  a  squire 

to  show  the 
Giant  the 
boar's  beBd< 


The  Giant 


swears  he*U 
avenge  its 
death, 


By  the  time  he  had  heard  m^iffle^ 
the  Gyant  to  this  place  come  was, 

&  cryed  as  hee  were  wood ; 
''  Sir  King,"  he  said,  **  send  vnto  mee 
Amada^  thy  daughter  ffree^ 
^  ^"^i      or  I  shall »  spill  thy  blood." 

44 


516 


520 


524 


528 


Sir  Eglamore  anon-right  ^ 

in  good  armonr  he  him  dight, 
&  vpon  the  walles  he  yode  ^  ; 
he  camanded  a  sqnier  to  beare 
the  bores  head  vpon  a  speare, 

that  the  Gyant  might  itt  ^  see. 
&  when  he  looked  on  the  head, 
"alas !  "  he  said,^  "art  thou  dead  ? 

my  trust  was  all  in  thee ! 
now  by  the  Law  that  I  line  in,i<* 
my  litle  speckeled  hoglin,'* 

deare  bought  shall  thy  death  bee  !  " 


'  Sibes. — P.  The  MS.  is  indistinct, 
and  the  Bishop  explains  it.  See  the 
way  to  prepare  a  bath  in  Biissel's  Boke 
of  Nurture,  Babees  Boke  ^c.  E.  E.  1  ext 
Soc.  1868,  p.  182-6. 

«  mete.— T. 

'  T.  ends  its  8ee<mdefytt  with  stanza  52, 
1.  611  below.—F. 

*  Oiganata.— T. 


»  thon  schalt — T. 

•  that  nobylle  knjght. — T. 

'  for  *  yode  he.' — F.  wendyth  h 

•  Maras  myght  hym. — T. 

•  my  bore. — ^T. 
"  leve  ynne. — T. 

"  spote  hoglyn. — T.  Fr.  code 
shote  or  shete  pigge,  a  prettie  I 
— Ck>tgrave. 


IQLAMORB.  361 

45 
the  Gjant  on  the  walb  donge  ; 
SM     att  euery  ittroke  fycr  out  spronge ; 
for  nothing  wold  he  spare, 
towardji  the  castle  gan  he  ciye^ 
'*  false  traitor !  thoa  shalt  dye  *  Uif«at«u  to 

kill  ~" 

SM        for  slajing  of  my  bore ! 

jour  strong  walles  I  doe  '  downe  ding, 
&  with  mj  hands  I  shall  the  hango* 
ere  tktit  I  finrther  passe.^  *' 
540     bat  throQgh  the  grace  of  god  almight, 
the  Gyant  had  his  ffill  of  fight, 
&  therto  some  deale  more.* 

46« 

Sir  Eglamore  was  not  agast ; 

txTUts  In 

S44     on  might-ffbll  god  was  all  his  tmst,  Ood  — dhk 

&  on  his  sword  soe  good. 

to  Kglamore  said  the  Kiny  then, 

**  bi'st  is  to  arme  rs  eneiye  man ; 
Mti         this  thecfe,  I  hold  him  woode.** 

47* 
Str  Eglamon*  sware  by  the  roode, 
**  I  hhall  him  aKsay  if  hee  were  wood  ; 
mickle  i»  gixls  mi^ht !  ** 
552     he  rode  a  course  to  say  hin  8tc>ed,  ^tm  Ii^ 

he  t'M)ke  \i\h  hehne  Sc  forth  htny  yeede  ;  «»ikip. 

All  men  praytnl  for  that  Knujhi.  [pi«t»i] 

48 
S*r  K^^lamore  into  the  fTeild  taketh  ;  ukcath* 

556     tlie  Gyaut  set*  him/  &  to  him  gtx*th  ; 


J\»'%'%:  tr«3rtun-«.  yr  M*hAlIr  »!'jrr.  •  T.    niiikcMi    on**    »t«nxa.    XLIX.   i»f 

r  thf-M.  p    144  A.  «t»<l  ttltfTn  lh«*  nmiiiff^ 

m>i.t'.i»       T.              •  hvii4r«>      T.  ro*-!!!  of  th**  liiHii,  Afo.     K. 

f*r«    ',u.  -V.     Or  that  y  h«  u*  f^rr.  '  ktm  \iam  a  lio*-  tlmmgb  it.— F. 

r  •   BMUf— P. 

%••!     II                                                      II  It 


362 


IGLAMORB. 


andcharvn 
tbeGUnt, 


whonpaeU 
himaiidhii 


'*  welcome,"  he  said,  ^*  my  fieere ! 
thoa  art  hee  that  slew  ^  my  bore ! 
that  Bhalt  thou  repent  ffull  sore, 
560        A  buy  itt  wonderons  deere !  *' 

Sir  Eglamore  weened  well  what  to  doe; 
With  a  speare  he  rode  him  to, 
as  a  man  of  armes  cleere. 
564    agamst  him  the  Gyant  was  redy  howoe, 
but  horsse  &  man  he  bare  all  downe, 
that  dead  he  was  fihll  nere. 


SglAmon 


•ttaokihiiii 
on  foot. 


and  coti  off 
Uw  OUnt't 
right  arm, 


bathe 
flghtBon 
tUl  sun- 
down. 


and  then 
droiMdcad. 


They  ring 

tiko  bells ; 

King 

Kdward 

promiwA 

to  crown 

BglamoTB 


49 

Sir  Eglamore  cold  noe  better  read, 
568    but  what  time  his  horsse  was  dead, 
to  his  fibote  he  hath  him  tane  ; 
&  then  Eglamore  to  him  gan  goe ; 
the  right  arme  he  smote  hin^  froe, 
572         euen  by  the  sholder  bone ; 
&  tho  he  '  had  lo^t  his  hand, 
all  day  hee  stood  a  ffightand 
till  tho  ssun  to  rest  gan  goe ; 
576     •  the  sooth  to  say,'  w/thouten  lye, 
ho  sobbed  &  was  soe  drye 
tJiat  lifib  him  lasteth  none. 

50 

all  that  on  the  walles  were, 
580    when  they  heard  the  Gyant  rore, 
ffor  ioy  the  bells  th^  ring. 
Edmond  was  the  "Khujs  ^  name, 
swore  to  Str  Eglamore,  "  by  St.  lame, 
584         here  shalt  thou  be  ILing  ! 


'  Y  trowo  thou  haipe  to  sle. — T. 
«  Thowe  the  lorelle.— T. 
•  Then  was  he  so  weiy  he  myjt  not 
stonde, 


The  blode  ran  so  fast«  fro  b 

every  honde, 
That  lyfe  dayes  hadd  he  ner] 
— T. 
*  kynges. — T. 


EGLAMOBE. 


363 


**  to-morrow  tbow  sbalt  crowned  bee, 
&,  tbou  sbalt  wed  my  daugbter  firee 

witb  a  curyous  ricb  ringe !  *' 
588     Eglamore  answered  witb  words  mild  : 
"  god  *  giue  you  ioy  of  your  cbild ! 

flfor  bere  I  may  not  abyde  longe.*  " 

5] 
"  Sir  Eglamore',  for  tby  dougbtye  deede 
592     tbou  sbalt  not  be  called  lewd 

in  noe  place  wbere  tbou  goe !  "  ' 
tben  said  Amada,^  thai  sweete  tbing, 
"haue  here  of  me  a  gold  ring 
596         witb  a  precyous  stone ; 

wbere-soe  you  bee  on  water  or  Land, 
&  tbis  ring  vpon  yowr  band, 
notbing  inay  you  slone." 

53 

600     "  gramercy  !  "  sayd  Eglamore  flfree. 
"  tbis  15  yeeres  will  I  abyde  tbeo, 

soe  thai  you  will  me  wed ; 
tbis  will  I  sweare,  soe  god  me  saue, 
604     "K-lng  ne  Prince  nor  none  will  baue, 
if  tbey  be  comlye  cladd  !  " 
"  damsell,"  be  said,  "  by  my  ffay, 
by  thai  time  I  will  you  say 
'608         bow  thai  I  baue  8j)edd." 

be  tooke  tbe  Gyantfi  bead  &  tbe  bore, 
&  towards  Artoys  did  be  &re, 
god  belpe  me  att  neede !  ^ 


and  marry 
him  to  his 
daughter. 


Eglamoro 
declineBthe 
young  lady, 


though  she 
gives  him  a 
charmed 
ring 


and  offers  to 
wait  fifteen 
Tears fbr 
him. 


He  pats  her 
off. 


and  starts 

towards 

Artoys. 


Syr. — T.      *  may  ye  not  lende. — ^T. 
Y  schalle  geve  the  a  nobylle  stede, 

Al  so  redd  as  ony  rooue ; 
Yn  yustyng  ne  in  tumement. 
Thou   schalt    never    sofiur    dethys 
wound 
Why  lie  thou  syttyst  hym  upon. 

— T. 
Seyde  Organata. — T. 


*  The  knyght  takyth  hys  leve  and 
farys, 
Wyth  the  geauntys  hedd  and  the 
borys, 
The  weyes  owre  Lord  wylle  hym 
lede. 
Thy 8  ya  the  seamdefytt  of  thy 8 : 
Make  we  mery,  80  have  we  blye^ 
Forferre  have  we  to  rede.-^T, 


BD  2 


364 


EOLAXOBB. 


In  wBttn 
mtkB  B^U- 
moremchea 
Artoys, 


i«  greeted  by 
Chrlstabell, 


59 

612    by  that  7  weekes  were  comen  to  end, 
oaon  att  Artoys  lie  did  lend, 
wberas  Prinsamoure  was. 
the  Erie  therof  was  greatl j  fame 
616     /^at  Eglamore  was  come  againe ; 
soe  was  both  more^  and  lease. 
when  Ghristabell  as  white  as  swan, 
heard  tell  how  Eglamore  was  come, 
620        to  him  shee  went  fiill  yare ;  * 


whom  be 

kiMOS, 


bntber 
f atbcr  M3r>« 
"DerUtake 
yon,  will 
notbing  kill 
yon? 


Ton  want 
my  land  and 
my  danghtcr 
I  sappoee.'* 


54 

the  Knight  kissed  that  Ladj  gent, 
then  into  the  hall  bee  went 
the  Erie  for  to  teene. 
624     The  Erie  answered,  &  was  ffnll  woe 
"  what  devill !  may  nothing  tbee  sloe  P 

forsooth,  right  as  I  weene, 
thou  art  about,  as  I  vnderstand, 
628     for  to  winn  Artoys  &  all  my  Land, 
&  alsoe  my  daughter  cleane." 


Cm 


*•  I  do,"  iaya 
Eglamurc. 


"Oh  I 
perhaps 
you'll  got 
killed  yet." 


Efflamoro 
affko  for 
twelve  weeks 
retft; 


55 

Sir  Eglamore  said,  "  soe  mote  I  tbee, 

not  but  if  I  worthy  bee ; 
632         soe  god  giuo  me  good  read !  "  • 

the  Erie  said,  "  such  chance  may  ffall, 

ihii  one  may  come  &  quitt  all, 
be  thou  neuer  so  prest." 
636     "  but  good  LorJ,  I  you  pray, 

of  12  weekes  to  giue  me  day. 


'  One  stroke  too  many  in  the  MS.  m, 

«  T.  adds : 
-*Syr,"    schc     seyde,     *'how    haue    ye 
fiaryn?'* 


"  Damycelle,  wele,  and  in  travelle  1 
To  brynge  us  bothe  owt  of  care." 

■  Helpe  God  that  ys  beste.— T. 


EGLAMOBE. 


365 


640 


my  weary  body  to  rest." 
12  weekes  were  granted  then 
by  prayer  of  many  >  a  gentleman  ^ 

&  comforted  him  with  the  best. 


56 
Sir  Eglamore  after  supper 
went  to  Christabells  chamber 
644         with  torches  burning  bright, 
the  Ladye  was  of  soe  great  pride,^ 
shee  sett  him  on  her  bedside, 
&  said,  "  welcome,  Sir  Knight !  " 
648     then  Eglamore  did  her  tell 
of  adventures  that  him  befell, 

but  there  he  dwelled  all  night. 
"  damsell,"  he  said,  "  soe  god  me  speed, 
652     I  hope  in  god  you  for  to  wedd  !" 

&  then  their  trothes  they  plight.' 

57 
by  that  12  weekes  were  come  &  gonty 
Christabbell  tJiat  was  as  faire  as  sunn,^ 
656         all  wan  waxed  her  he  we. 

shee  said  ynto  her  maidens  ffree, 
"  in  that  yee  know  my  priuitye,* 
looke  Mat  yee  bee  trew  !  " 
660     the  Erie  angerlye  gan  fiare, 

he  said  to  Eglamore,  ''  make  thee  yare 

for  thy  louruey  a-new  !  " 
When  Christabell  therof  heard  tell,^ 
664     shee  mourned  night  &  day, 

that  all  men  might  her  rue. 


after  rapper 
goes  to 
ChristabeU's 
chamber. 


gtays  there 
aU  night, 
and  begctj<  a 
son  on  her. 


In  twelve 

weekB 

Christabell 

grows  wan, 

and  begs  her 
maids  to 
keep  her 
secret. 


The  Earl 
orders  Egla- 
more off. 


and  Christa- 
bell mourns. 


Only  half  the  n  is  in  the  MS.— F. 
was  not  for  to  hyde. — T. 
T.  adds : 

So  gracyonsly  he  come  hiir  tylle, 
Of  poyntes  of  armys  he  schewyd 
hur  hys  fyUe, 
That  there  they  dwellyd  alle  ny^t. 


*  as  whyte  as  fome. — ^T. 

*  Sche  prayed  hur  gentylle  women  so 

fre, 
That  they  would  layne  hur  privyto. 

— T. 

*  say.— P. 


366 


SQLAMOBB. 


EgUoMvre*! 
Thlnl  Deed 
of  AmM  Into 
kill  a  iitrong 
Dngon  near 
Romo. 


58 

tho  Erie  said,  "  there  is  mee  told  long, 
beside  Boome  there  is  a  dragon  strong ; 
668        forsooth  as  I  you  saj, 

tho  dragon  is  of  snch  renowne 
there  dare  noe  man  come  neere  the  towne 
by  5  miles  and  more ;  ^ 
672    armo  thee  well  A  thither  wend  ; 

looke  that  thoa  slay  him  with  thy  hand, 
or  else  *  say  mee  nay." 


Bglamore 
UuEesleaT 


leayo 


of  Chritta- 
bell, 


giTQshcra 
gold  ring. 


andgoeRto 
Rome. 


59 

Sir  Eglamore  to  the  chamber  went, 
676     A  tooko  his  leane  of  tho  Ladye  gent^ 
white  as  fflowor  on  ffeelde  ' ; 
''  damsell,*'  he  said,  "  I  hane  to  doone ; 
I  am  to  goe,  A  come  againe  right  soone 
680        through  the  might  of  Marry  mild, 
a  gold  ring  I  will  gino  thee  ; 
keepo  itt  well  for  the  lone  of  mee 
if  Christ  send  me  a  child." 
684     &  then,  in  Romans  as  wee  say, 
to  great  roomc  ho  tooko  his  way, 
to  seeko  the  dragon  wild.* 


The  Dragon 
throws  down 
him  and  his 
horse. 


60 

if  he  were  neuer  see  hardy e  a  Knight^ 
fi88     when  of  tho  dragon  he  had  a  sight, 
his  hart  began  to  be  cold.* 
anon  the  dragon  waxed  wrothe, 
he  smote  Str  Eglamore  &  his  steed  bothe, 
692         that  both  to  ground  they  ffell.^ 


'  Be  XV.  myle  of  way. — T. 
'  ellys  thou. — T.     After  nay  T.  adds 
six  lines  not  in  our  text. — F. 
'  in  may. — P. 
*  The  Thornton  text  adds  : 


Tokenyngea  sone  of  hym  he  fon 
Slayne  men  on  every  honde; 

Be  hundeides  he  them  told<».- 
to  folde. — T. 
To  the  gronnde  so  colde.--T. 


BOLAMORK. 


367 


A  on  thai  flbwlc  wormo  heo  belt 
With  stroakM  nmny  and  bold  ' ; 


■RUmore 
ttttacJuthe 


Cpit«»f] 


61 

$96     the  draf^on  iihott  firo  with  his  month 
like  the  devill  of  hell ; 
Sir  R^lamoro  neero  him  gan  goe, 
&  mnotc  hin  taile  halfe  him  flroe  * ; 
7(10         then  he  began  to  yell,  * 

A  With  the  fttnmpe  thai  jett  was  leaned 
he  Rmote  Si'r  Eglamoro  on  the  head ; 
thai  ttroake  was  fleiroe  and  flcU. 


eats  half  Its 
taUoff, 


bimnlf  la 

UMhMd, 


7(H 


06 


:ii 


:i6 


rail 


6S 

'*  Sir  Eglamore  neero  him  gan  goe, 
the  dragons  head  he  smote  of  thoe, 

flbmooth  as  I  joa  saj, 
his  wings  he  smote  of  alsoe,' 
he  smote  the  ridge  bone  in  2, 

A  wan  the  fleild  thai  daj. 
the  Kmperour  of  Roome  Lay  ^  in  his  tower 
A  ffjuit  beheld  Sir  Eglamore, 

A  to  hiH  Krii'^Ats  gan  say, 
**  d()e  cry  in  Roome,  the  dragons  slaine  ! 
a  kni^'h^t]  him  mIow  w/th  might  A  maine, 

manfully,  by  my  flay  !  " 
thnmgh  Roome  they  made  a  cr}*e, 
cxivry  offiorr  in  his  Imylyo, 

**  the  dragon  is  slaine  this  day  !  " 

69 

A  then  the  Emperonr  tooke  the  way 
to  tho  place  where  F^glamon*  liny. 


boildlUitlM 


The 

Rmparor 
CucwOuitiM 
of 


OfllfVI  tiw 
Dtmoo** 
dMlhtobn 
pruclAUnol. 


timi  fOM  to 


W»th  J'tttor  «ljrnir  aihI  Mir. — T. 

llAilr  thr  tntMgr  hr  fttfukr  ikWny.  —  T. 

I  i.r    knight    ftrjde.    **  Nov    am   y 
ftrhrtit<- ! " 


Nrrr  that  wrckyd  woniH»  he  wrnt , 
•  »toJ«,-T. 


368 


BaiiAMOBE. 


brings  him 
to  Ilome, 
and  tbo 
people  moct 
nim  in 
proowwicwi. 


^;>08ido  that  ffbule  things 
wtth  all  thai  might  ride  or  gone. 
Sir  Eglamore  they  haue  vp  tane, 
724         &  to  the  towne  thej  can  him  bring ; 
ffor  ioj  that  they  dragon  was  slaine, 
they  came  with  procession  him  againe, 

and  bells  they  did  ringe. 
7SS     the  Emperour  of  Roome  brought  him  soone, 
Gonstantine,  that  was  his  name, 

a  hord  of  great  Longinge. 


Constan- 
tinc's 
daughter 
Vyaidns 


hnbiEgla- 
morc's  head, 
and  aares 
his  life. 


64 

'  all  that  ener  saw  his  head, 
732    th^  said  that  Eglamore  was  but  dead, 
that  K^iight  Sir  Eglamore. 
the  Emperonr  had  a  daughter  bright, 
shee  yndertooke  to  heale  the  'Knightf 
736        her  name  was  vyardns.* 

'  wtth  good  salnes  shee  healed  his  head 
&  saned  him  firom  the  dead, 
that  Lady  of  great  valours  : 
740     &  there  within  a  little  stond 

shee  made  Sir  Eglamore  whole  &  sound ; 
god  giue  her  honor  !  * 


'  T.  omits  tho  next  three  lines. — F. 

'  ys  DaM-ntown'. — T. 

■-*  The  Thornton  t«xt  has  for  those : 
Soho  savys  hym  fro  the  dedd, 
And  with  hur  handys  scho  helyth  hys 
hedd 

A  twclmonth  in  hur  bowre. 


It  then  adds  two  stanzas  of  t^ 
(LXVII,  LXVni.  p.  163-4)  teUiE 
the  Emperor  bad  the  Dnigtm's 
fetched  into  Home,  and  put  in  * 
Laurens  kyrke."  As  to  this  chure 
Staciotis  ofRatne,  p.  13 ;  Po/.  AW.  i 
Poems f  p.  132.  p.  xxxv. — F. 


EOLAMOBC 


369 


[PartrV.] 


[  How  ChhsUbeirf  ehild  if  bora,  and  a  Orif&n  flics  away  with  it] 


65 
Anon  word  came  to  Ariois 
744         how  thai  the  dragon  fdaine  was : 
a  Knujhi  that  deode  had  done. 
M>e  long  at  the  Lecchc*crafl  he  did  dwell, 
V.  parta  J  that  a  flfaire  sonne  *  had  Christaboll 
746  aa  white  aa  wh^es  bone.* 

then  the  Erie  made  his  vow, 
**  daughter !  into  the  sea  ahalt  thou 
in  a  shipp  thy  selfo  alone  ! 
752    Tliy  joonge  sonne  shall  be  thy  fere,* 
christendome  *  getteth  itt  none  here  !  " 
her  maidens  wept  eche  one. 


White  Bfl»- 

morel» 

mklar  tlw 

doctofa 

hands, 

ChrlitAbaU 

hasai 


BerfiUMr 
TO«sb<i*U 
Mod  her  and 
her  txratottt 
Iowa  alona. 


66 

^  her  mother  in  swoone  did  fiall, 
756     right  8oe  did  her  fircinds  all 
thai  wold  her  any  good. 
'•gTKKi  Lonl/*  hlie  said,  **  I  you  pray, 
let  some  prest  a  g<(>N|H*ll  Kay, 
TGO         ffoT  doubt  of  (TeendeH  in  the  fflood. 

flarwell,"  nheo  Hiiid,  **  my  maideiut  (Tree  ! 
^•et  well  my  I^>nl  when  you  him  see.** 
they  wept  tih  they  were  wiHKle. 
764     I^eaue  wet»  now  Sir  Kglainon*, 

Ami  fi{>oake  wee  more  of  thai  liadyc  Slower 
/A<it  vnkmiwn  wayes  ytvlde.* 


Chri«Ub(4l 
|>rajf»  tliat  a 
priMi  may 
•ay  a  pmifK*! 
fur  thitn, 

antl  tak<Ni 
Irarr  of  hrr 
maiiWn*. 


[pare  3AC) 


A  m»xi-<hTlilr.     T. 

-^i*rW    ma»lr    frmi    the    Irrth    of   the 
%  r-^«   Ut  \m  ffrnn«-«l  fnmi  th«*  l«>uea  of 
.    v'.V.r        llAlli«rir«4fhiaa.      F. 
*  \tA    that    UMitanl  tltat    to    th«*    >« 


dfr»\     T. 

•  chn«tenin|;. — F. 

•  T.  iii^krrt^  a  atanxa  an«l  a  qii(«r1*'r 
h<*rp.  p.  lal— *!.  I»ut  IwiTraout  (briiHAlwr'a 
fViMMiiiiit.     F. 

•  y,«Jr.— P. 


370 


EGLAMORE. 


\ 


Hcmhip 
oomm  to  a 
rock. 


BheUnds, 


finds  only 
binls  and 
be«iU  there, 

and  a  irriffln 
carries  her 
boy  off  to  a 
strange 
country. 


67 

the  shipp  drone  ffoiih  niglit  &  dajr 
768    yp  to  a  rocke,  the  sooth  to  saj, 
where  wild  beasts  did  mn.^ 
shee  was  fixill  ffaine,  I  vnderstand,  | 

shee  wend  shee  had  beene  in  some  [loiown ']  Land, 
772         <&  vp  then  gan  shee  wend. 

noe  manner  of  men  ffonnd  shee  there, 
that  ffbnles  &  beasts  that  were  there, 
ffast.they  ffled  ffirom  Land. 
776     there  came  a  Ghiffoii  '  that  ronght  her  care ; 
her  yonnge  child  away  hee  bare 
Into  a  conntrye  vnknowne.* 


the  King  of 
IsareU's 


land. 


A  Gentle- 
woman pickfl 
up  the  boy. 


68 

the  Ladje  wept,  &  said  "  alas 
780     that  euer  shee  borne  was  ! 

my  child  is  taken  me  ffroe  !  " 
the  Kjing  of  Isarell  on  hnntinge  went ; 
he  saw  where  the  fifonlc  lent ; 
784         towards  him  gan  he  goe. 

a  griffon,  the  booke  saith  that  he  hight, 
tJiat  in  Isarell  did  light, 

thai  wrought  that  Ladye  woe. 
788     the  ffoulo  smote  him  with  his  bill, 
the  child  cryed  and  liked  ill ; 
the  griffon  then  leffli  him  there. 

69 

a  gentlewoman  to  that  [child  *]  gan  passo, 
792     &  l^pp[t]  itt  in  a  mantle  of  Scarlett  was, 
&  wi'th  a  rich  pane.® 


»  fecde.— P. 

'  there  had  bo  a  kende  londc. — T. 

■  a  grype. — T.  Fr.  griffon  y  a  grype  or 
griffon. — Cotgrave.  Grypc,  hyrde,  vtU- 
tur;  Promptorium :  see  Mr.  Way's  note 
to  it,  p.  212-13.— F. 


•  unknowe.— P. 

•  a  squyer  to  the  chyldc. — T. 

•  Pan©  of  furre,  panne  (PalsgraTe): 
Panne  a  skinne,  fell  or  hide  (Cotgrave); 
from  L.  pannus.  Way.   Cp.  coantcrpanc. 


BOLAHORX. 


371 


the  child  was  largo  of  lim  A  Ijthc, 
a  girdlo  of  gold  itt  was  bound  with^ 
796         with  worsso  cloth  itt  was  cladd. 
the  King  sworo  hj  the  rood, 
**  the  child  is  come  of  gentle  blood, 
whorsoeaer  thai  heo  was  tano ; 
soo     A  for  ho  firoo  tho  Griffon  ffell, 
they  named  tho  child  degraboU, 
that  lost  was  in  wilsome  way. 


TheKlnc 


ehrlstena 
him  Uegni- 
bell. 


«i 


44 


70 

the  King  wold  hont  noe  more  thai  tydo, 
S04     but  With  tho  child  homeward  gan  rydo, 
th^ii  ffrom  the  Griffon  was  hent. 
Madam,**  ho  sa^'d  to  his  Qneeno, 
ffall  ofl  I  bane  a  banting  beeno ; 
80S         this  daj  god  hath  me  lent.*' 
of  thiii  Cliild  he  was  blythe ; 
aA4.«r  nurses  shce  went  beliue ; 
the  child  was  louelje  gent. 
^12     l<»aue  wc«o  now  of  this  chyldo, 
&  talke  wiHJ  of  his  mother  mild, 
to  what  linnd  god  hor  sent. 


udtakM 
him  bumeio 
hiawlfo. 


wbofcte 
none*  tor 


M«uiUn>r. 
ChriatAbeU 


All  thni  ni^ht  on  the  rorKO  Khoo  l/ay  ; 
^l«     a  win<l  roRo  vjK>n  the  *  day, 

Sc  ffnim  the  I^md  her  driueth. 
in  thui  nhipp  was  neither  msvii  nor  ore, 
but  euiT}'  Htn*ame  vpon  other 
*t«>         t/fii  ffiiHt  vjKin  her  drinrth. 

A  as  the  ^rn*at  Uwkc  of  lloonie  h&'\vh^ 
nhiHi  was  without  meate  '»  dayi^s 
among  the  groat  cliffcM.* 


k«m  lirr 
nick. 


I*  tlrlTrn 
•biiat  the 


fwtaflTT 


'  Ap}ny«.     T 


>  MS.  rluir.^.      F. 


372 


KOUIMORE. 


and  then 

mcbes 

BgTPt. 

The  King 


■eodsa 
•quire  to  her. 


ChrUtAbell 
cannot  speak 
totheBquire, 


824    by  that  5  dajes  were  gone, 
god  sent  her  succoar  soone  ; 
in  oBgipt '  shee  arrinedL 

72 
the  King  of  ^gipt '  lay  in  his  tower, 
828     &  saw  the  Ladje  as  white  as  fflower 
that  came  right  neere  the  Land ; 
he  comanded  a  Squire  firee 
to  '  Looke  what  in  f  Aat  shipp  might  bee 
832         that  is  ypon  the  sand.' 

the  Squier  went  thither  ffiill  tite, 
on  the  shipbord  he  did  smite, 
a  Ladje  vp  then  gan  stand ; 
836     Shee  might  not  speake  to  him  a  word, 
but  lay  &  looked  oner  the  bord, 
&  made  signes  with  her  hand.' 


\s^ 


who  gOCM 
back  to  the 
King. 


and  tells 
him  what  a 
lovely 
foroifm 
woman  he 
hasseezu 


73 

the  squier  wist  not  what  shee  ment ; 
840     againe  to  the  Km^  he  went, 
&  kneeled  on  his  knee  : 
"  Lord,  in  the  shipp  nothing  is, 
sauing  one  in  a  womans  Likenesse 
844         that  ffast  looked  on  meo. 

but  on  '  shee  be  of  fflesh  &  bone, 
a  ffairer  saw  I  neuer  none, 
saue  my  Ladye  soe  ffree  !  * 
848     shee  maketh  signes  with  her  hand ; 
shee  seemeth  of  some  ffarr  Land  ; 
vnknowen  shee  is  to  moe.* 


»  Tho  MS.  may  be  either  (E  or  iE  in 
this  and  other  cases. — F. 
*  Tho  Thornton  text  adds  : 
Make  we  meryfor  Goddys  est; 
Thi/8  ys  the  thryddfytte  ofotore  geste^ 


That  dar  y  take  an  hands.— F. 
»  an,  if.~F. 

*  But  hyt  were  Maiy  firee. — T. 

*  Beyond©  the  Orckys  see. — ^T. 


to 


BOLAMORl.  373 

74 

Sir  Marmadake  *  highet  the  King* 
^5S     ho  went  to  ace  that  sweet  thing, 
he  went  a  good  pace, 
to  the  Ladje  he  said  in  same,  SriJu 

"  speake,  woman,  on  god«  name  !  "  iST^  ^ 

856        against  him  shee  rose. 

the  Lady  thai  was  soe  meeke  A  milde, 
shee  had  bewept  soro  her  child, 
Mat  ahnoat  gone  shee  was.' 
s«o    home  to  the  oonrt  they  her  Ledd, 

with  good  meates  they  her  fledd ;  ^  coan,' 

with  good  will  shee  itt  taketh/  ««a, 

75 
**  Now,  good  damscll,*'  said  the  Ktfi^,  ^ 

S64     *'  where  were  yon  borne,  my  sweet  thing  ? 
yoe  are  soe  bright  of  blee.** 
"  Lord,  in  Artois  borne  I  was ; 
Sir  Prinsamoare  my  fiather  was, 
Ma         that  Lord  is  of  thai  Coantryc ; 
I  and  my  maidens  went  to  play 
by  an  anne  of  the  sea  ; 

locnnd  wee  were  and  lollye: 
|(*S     they  wind  was  lithe,  a  bote  there  stood,  gntbitAa 

1  and  my  sqnier  in  yode,  bcr  boj, 

bnt  vnchristencd  was  hee. 

76 
'*  on  land  I  leffl  my  maidenii  all, 
876     my  yoange  S(}aier  on  sleepc*  gan  flail, 

my  mantle  al  on  him  I  threw;  JTbET*"" 

MAf-ma^lukr^  •rrtn*  li»  hart  htrn  fmin  ^4^1*  "  »  dabm*. — F. 
Ruklok'^  — lVt>nl  m^e.  •  .Shr  wiw  weirn  »11«»  horm. — T. 

Br  Ib'^u  mwrrr  that  jfrutjrllf  kyoic^.  •  Ihrlyrvo*  loHjii  th#y  bar  l«dd. — T. 

T.  duv«ii*t  (iT«   "  Hm    kjrng  of  *  ■chr  tiicni  tA»r.--T. 


374 


EQLAHOBE. 


and  agriflln 
flew  aw^y 
with  him. 


"All  right, 
yoa  i»haU  be 
my  nieoe 
then:** 


andChiista- 
bell  iita>-8  in 
Egypt. 


a  grifibn  there  came  tJiat  rooght  me  care, 
my  yonnge  squier  away  hee  bare, 
880         southeast  with  him  hee  drew." 

"  damsell,"  he  satd,  '*  be  of  good  cheere, 
thou  art  my  brothers  daughter  deere." 
ffor  loy  of  him  shoe  louge  ; 
884     '  <]p  there  shee  did  still  dwell 
till  time  that  better  beffell, 
weth  ioy  and  mirth  enoughe.^ 


[Part  v.] 

[How  Eglamore  comes  back  to  Artois,  and  goes  to  the  Holy  Land  for 
fifteen  years ;  and  how  Christabell  marries  her  own  son.] 


Aasoon  u 

Eglamore 

roooTGn, 

holeavoB 
Uome» 


to  go  home 
toChrista- 
beU. 


Ho  reaches 
Artois, 


and  his 
eqairotellfl 
him  that 
CbristabcU 
is  dead. 


888 


5:*^  parte  ^ 

892 


896 


900 


904 


77 
Now  is  Eglamore  whole  &  sound, 
&  well  healed  of  his  wound  ; 

homeward  then  wold  hee  fiare. 
of  the  Emperour  he  tooke  leaue  I- wis, 
of  the  daughter,  &  of  the  Empresse, 

&  of  all  the  mcany  that  were  there. 
Christabell  was  most  in  his  thought : 
the  dragons  head  hee  home  brought, 
on  his  speare  he  itt  bare, 
by  that  7  weekes  were  come  to  end, 
in  the  land  of  Artoys  can  he  Lend, 
wheras  the  Erie  gan  ffare. 

78 
in  the  court  was  told,  as  I  vnderstand, 
how  that  Eglamore  was  come  to  Land 

with  the  dragons  head, 
his  Squier  rode  againe  him  soone, 
"  Sir,  thus  hath  our  Lord  doone  ;  * 

ffaire  Christabell  is  dead ! 


*—*  Kepc  we  thys  lady  whyte  as  flowre,  Now  comyth  to  hym  care  y-nogh.- 

And  speke  wo  of  syr  E^Uamowre ;        '  Lo !  lorde,  what  the  erle  hath  done ! 


BGLAMORE. 


375 


908 


a  ffaire  sonne  shee  had  borne  ; 
*  bothe  they  are  now  fforlomc 

through  his  fialse  read  ;  ^ 
In  ^  a  shipp  hee  put  them  2, 
&  with  the  wind  let  them  goe." 

then  swooned  ^  he  where  hee  stood. 


[)wge308] 


Her  father 
sent  her  and 
her  boy 


oat  to 
a  ship. 


In 


Eglamore 
swoons, 


79 

''  alas !  "  then  said  the  Knight  soe  firee, 
912     "  Lord  !  where  may  my  maidens  bee 
thai  in  her  chamber  was  F  " 
the  Squier  answered  him  ffuH  soonc, 
'*  as  soone  as  shee  was  doone, 
916         ech  one  their  way  did  passe." 
Eglamore  went  into  the  hall 
before  the  Squiers  &  knights  all : 
"  &  thou,  Erie  of  Artoys  ! 
920    take,"  he  said,  "the  dragons  head ! 
all  his  mine  thai  here  his  lead ! 
what  dost  thou  in  this  place  ?  "  ^ 


asks  after 

ChriBtabell*8 

maldenw, 


goes  to  the 
Earl  of 
Artois, 
gives  him 
the  Dragon's 
head. 

rfa^ma  gll 

his  goods, 
and  asks  him 
what  he's 
doing  there. 


80 

great  dole  itt  was  to  heere 
924    when  he  called  Ghristabell  his  fere : 

"  what !  art  thou  drowned  in  the  sea  ? 

god  thai  dyed  on  the  rood  bitterlye,* 

on  thy  soule  haue  mercye, 
928        and  on  thai  younge  child  soe  ffiree  !  " 

the  Erie  was  soe  feard  of  Eglamore 

tJiai  he  was  fiaine  to  take  his  tower ;  ^ 


Eglamore 
laments  over 
Ghristabell 
and  her  boy. 


*— '  The  erle  hath  hys  lyfe  forlome, 
He  wa8  bothe  whjrte  and  rede. — T. 

»  Im  in  MS.— P. 

'  Swooning  was  the  correct  thing  for 
knight,  and  on  rery  mnch  less  provo- 
ition  than  this.  See  many  instances 
I  Seynt  Graai,  &c  &c    It  betokened 


the  possession  of  delicate  feelings. — ^F. 

*  AUe  ys  myn  that  hero  ys  levydd. 
Thou  syttyst  in  my  place. — ^T. 

*  on  crosse  verye. — T. 

*  The  erle  rose  np  and  toke  a  towre. 
— T. 


376 


SGLAlfORB. 


•II  who  want 
knighthood 
to  go  with 
him. 


that  euermoie  woe  him  bee  ! 
93S    Eglamore  said,  ^'soe  god  me  sane, 

all  that  the  order  of  Knt^i^t-hoode  win  haoc, 
rise  yp  it  goe  with  mee !  " 


He  data 
thirty -two 
knights. 


starts  for  the 
Holy  Land, 


81 

they  were  finll  &me  to  do  his  will ; 
936     vp  they  rose,  A  came  him  till ; 
he  gane  them  order  soone. 
the  while  tluit  he  in  hall  abode, 
32  ^  knights  he  made, 
940        ffrom  morae  till  itt  was  noone. 
s  those  that  lining  had  none, 
he  gane  them  lining  to  line  vpon, 
fifor  Christabell  to  pray  soone. 
944    then  anon,  I  vnderstand, 

he  tooke  the  way  to  the  holy  Land, 
where  god  on  the  rood  was  done. 


andlires 
thoro  fifteen 
yoare, 


fighting  all 
wrong- 
livers. 


His  son 
Degrabell 
ia  now 
grown  big, 


82 

Sir  Eglamore,  as  yon  heare, 
948    he  dwelled  there  15  yeere 

the  heathen  men  amonge ; 
fiull  manffnllye  he  there  him  bare, 
where  any  deeds  of  armes  were, 
952         against  him  that  lined  wronge. 
in  battell  or  in  tnmament 
there  might  no  man  withstand  his  dent, 
bnt  downe  right  he  him  thronge. 
966     by  that  15  yeeres  were  gone, 

his  Sonne  that  the  griffon  had  tane, 
was  waxen  both  stifife  and  stronge. 


»  V.  and  thretty.— T. 
'  And  he  that  was  the  porest  of  them 
alio, 
He  gaf  for  Crystyabellys  soule 
Londys  to  leye  upon. 


A  thousand,  as  y  undurstonde, 
He  toke  with  hym,  and  went 
the  Holy  Londe, 
There  GKxi  on  cros  was  done. 


EGULMORE. 


377 


83 
now  was  degrabell  waxen  wight ; 
960     the  King  of  Isarell  dubbd  him  a  Kyiight 
and  Prince  wtth  his  hand. 
Listen,  Lords  great  and  small, 
of  what  manner  of  armes  he  bare, 
964         &  jee  will  vnderstand : 

he  bare  in  azure,  a  griffon  of  gold 
richlye  portrayed  in  the  mold, 
on  his  clawes  hanginge 
968     a  man  child  in  a  mantle  round 
&  with  a  girdle  of  gold  bound, 
without  any  Leasinge. 


ia  dabbed 
knight, 


and  these  are 
his  arms: 


on  a  shield  of 
asnre 


a  gold) 
gnffln 


Iden 


carrying  a 
boy  with  a 
girdle  of 
gold. 


84 

the  King  of  Isarell,  hee  waxed  old  ; 
972     to  degrabell  his  sonne  he  told, 
"  I  wold  thou  had  a  wiffe 
while  that  I  line,  my  sonne  deere  ; 
when  I  am  dead,  thou  hast  noe  fibre, 
976         riches  is  soe  riffe."  * 

a  messenger  stoode  by  the  King  : 
"  in  ^gipt  is  a  sweet  thing, 
I  know  noe  such  on  Hue ; 
980     the  King,  fibrsooth,  this  oath  hath  swome, 
there  shall  none  her  haue  that  is  borne 

But  he  winne  her  by  strifle."  [page  80»] 

the  King  said,  "  by  the  rood, 
984     wee  will  not  Lett  if  shee  bee  good ; 
haue  done,  &  buske  vs  swythe." 
anon-right  they  made  them  yare, 
&  their  armour  to  the  shipp  the  bare, 
988         to  passe  the  watter  beliue. 


The  King  of 
Isarell  asks 
Degrabell  to 
marry. 


They  are 
told  of 
Christabell 
In  Egypt; 


but  he  who 
wins  her 
most  fight 
for  her. 


They  make 
ready. 


sail  off, 


VOL.  II. 


'  When  y  am  dedd,  thou  getyst  no  pere, 
Of  ryches  thou  art  so  ryfe. — T. 

CO 


378 


EGLAMOBE. 


lanil  In 

aiinonnoe 
Uieir  coming 
to  the  King 
of  Egypu 


Ilcwdcomc 
Ibi'Di, 


85 

by  ttliat  7  dayes '  were  comen  to  end, 
in  8E^pt  Land  they  gan  Lend, 
the  yncoutho  costea  to  see.* 
992    messengers  went  before  to  tell, 
"  here  cometh  the  Kdtig  of  Isarell 

wt  th  a  ffaire  Meany, 
&  the  Prince  with  many  a  Knightj 
996     fibr  to  hane  your  daughter  bright, 
if  itt  joiiT  wil  be." 
the  Khig  said,  "  I  trow  I  shall 
ffind  Lodging'  ffbr  you  all ; 
1000        right  welcome  yee  are  to  mee  !  " 


UhuU  the 
King  of 
iHan'll  into 
thvhnll, 


86 

then  tmmpetts  in  the  shipp  ^  rose, 
&  cnery  man  to  Land  goes ; 

the  Knitjhta  were  clothed  in  pall. 
1004    the  younge  Knujht  of  15  yeere, 
ho  rydeth,  as  yee  may  heere, 

a  fibote  abone  them  all. 
the  King  of  Isarell  on  the  Land, 
1008     the  Kin  (J  of  -^gipt  takes  him  by  the  hanil 
&  Ledd  liim  into  the  hall : 
*  "  S/r,"  said  the  King,  "  ffor  charitye, 
will  you  lett  mee  yowr  daughter  see,* 
1012         white  as  bone  of  whall  ?  " 


and  1ct(«  him 
woo  CliriKta- 
boll. 

Ilcr  son 
dddnM  her, 


1016 


87 

the  Lady  ffrom  the  chamber  was  brought ; 
w/th  mans  hands  shee  seemed  wrought 

&  earned  out  of  tree, 
her  owne  sonne  stood  &  beheld  : 


'  Bo  th[r]c  wckys.— T. 

'  Ther  forsus   for  to  knowe  swvthe. 

■r 


— T. 


'  redj  yustyng. — T. 


*  Tnimpus  in  tho  topp-castello. 

•  Y  prt^y  the  thou  gj-f  me  a  sjg 
Of     Crystjabelle,    yowre  do 

bryght,— T. 


EOLAMOBE. 


379 


**  well  worthyc  him  Mat  might  wold !  " 

tliuK  to  himiielfe  thought  hcc. 
the  King  of  Isarell  asked  then 
lo*/(i     if  tliat  fihe  '  might  passo  the  Btrcame^ 
hill  iionncfi  wiffe  fibr  to  bee. 
'•  Sir/*  said  tho  King,  '*  if  that  joa  maj 
mcete  mo  a  stroake  to-morrowe, 
Ufii        thine  aaking  grant  I  thee." 

as 
Ijrtrda  in  hall  were  sett, 
it  waitcfl  blew  to  the  meate. 
they  made  all  royall  cheere ; 
1048     tho  2  KitufB  the  desao  began,* 

Sir  I>egrabell  &  his  mother  then, 

the  2  wore  sibb  finll  nccro. 
then  KnighiB  went  to  iiitt  Lwin, 
I03i     A  eoerj  man  to  his  office, 

to  seme  tho  Knights  deere  ; 
A  affl4»r  meato  washed  they,' 
&  Clarkes  grace  gan  say 
1(06         in  luill,  as  you  may  heore. 

89 
then  on  the  morrow  when  day  sprong 
p'litlemi'n  in  their  armour*  throng, 
iK'^^ralK'll  was  di^ht ; 
l«»40     the  King  of  ii'^tfipt  gan  him  Hay 
in  n  tfaire  ffeeld  thai  day 

With  many  a  noble  Knight, 
wliat  time  the  groat  I^onl  might  him  nee, 
1014     they  aMke<l,  **  what  Lonl  //fit  might  bee 
With  the  griffon  Hoe  britfht  'f  '* 


and  01*7 
lwT«brrif 
he  win*  Im 


Th«j  lUiM, 


Mid  Defm- 
t«>ilu»dhla 
OKiUwr  luiTt 
thehicb 


Snldmj 


rVfrrmbell 
mrm*, 

Kinir  «f 

him. 


•  M-*  thr      Yfthr.     T.    (with  olh.r 

»  ht^i  th*^  thi'-f  i^r^m  t,n  thf  <Ui».  -  F. 

•  S.*-  til*-  u\fr»thju  •!••»•  riU-tl  in   'i%r 
i,  if  ./  Cmrtusft  4c.  ^K.  E.  TrM  Sue. 


1807).     F.     T.  hii«! 

Aftur  mrt«»,  thAt)  lu^rtip  thf»T 
/Vw«  /fti'ts,  tlrrkyt  CAOOr  im  y«». 
•  to  luinnU.— T. 


c  c  2 


370 


EQLAHOBE. 


Her  Rhip 
comes  to  a 
rock, 


aho  lands, 


finds  only 
birds  una 
beBsto  there, 

and  a  iniffln 
earricshcr 
boy  off  to  a 
strange 
oonntry. 


67 

tho  shipp  drone  fibrth  night  &  daj 
768    vp  to  a  rocke,  the  sooth  to  saj, 
where  wild  beasts  did  mn.' 
shce  was  fihll  fiaine,  I  vnderstand, 
shoe  wend  shee  had  becne  in  some  [known  ']  Land, 
772        &  vp  then  gan  shee  wend. 

noe  manner  of  men  fibnnd  shee  there, 
thai  fibnles  &  beasts  tliat  were  there, 
flast.thej  ffled  firom  Land. 
776     there  came  a  Ghriflbn  '  that  ronght  her  care ; 
her  yonnge  child  away  hee  bare 
Into  a  conntrye  ynknowno.^ 


the  King  of 
Isarell's 


land. 


68 

the  Ladye  wept,  &  said  ''  alas 
780     thai  cner  shee  borne  was  ! 

my  child  is  taken  me  firoe  !  " 
tho  Kiiig  of  Isarell  on  hnntinge  went ; 
he  saw  where  the  fibnle  lent ; 
784         towards  him  gan  he  goe. 

a  griffon,  the  booke  saith  that  he  hight, 
th^t  in  Isarell  did  light, 

thni  wronght  that  Ladye  woe. 
788     tho  ffonlo  smote  him  wtth  his  bill, 
the  child  crycd  and  liked  ill ; 
the  griffon  then  lefil  him  there. 


A  Gentlo- 
woman  picks 
up  the  l)oy. 


69 


a  gentlewoman  to  that  [child  ']  gan  passe, 
792    &  lapp[t]  itt  in  a  mantle  of  Scarlett  was, 
&  wtth  a  rich  pane.® 


>  fp(»de.— P. 

*  there  had  be  a  kende  londe. — T. 

•  a  grypo. — T.  Fr.  griffon^  a  grype  op 
priffon. — Cotgmve.  Grypo,  byrde,  vul- 
tur;  Fromptorium :  see  Mr.  Way's  note 
to  it,  p.  212-13.— F. 


*  nnknowe.— P. 

*  a  squyer  to  the  ehylda — T. 

*  Pane  of  fiirre,  panm  (P^kffKn); 
Panne  a  skinne,  fell  or  luda  (Oolgfsvv); 
from  L.  ^NmmM^  Way.  Op.  comtotpM*' 
— F. 


BOLAMORB. 


371 


the  child  was  large  of  Urn  &  Ijthc, 
a  girdlo  of  gold  itt  was  bound  with, 
796         with  worsflo  cloth  itt  was  cladd. 
the  King  swore  by  the  rood, 
"  the  child  is  come  of  gentle  blood, 
whemoener  that  hee  was  tane ; 
SOD     &  for  he  firoe  the  Orifibn  fibll, 
thej  named  the  child  degrabcU, 
thai  lost  was  in  wilsome  way. 


TteKte 


chrtatgna 

htm 

ball. 


70 

the  King  wold  hnnt  noe  more  thai  tjde, 
se4    bat  With  tlie  child  homeward  gan  ryde, 
thai  ffrom  the  Griffon  was  hont 
"  Madam,'*  he  said  to  his  Qoeeno, 
*'  ffnll  ofl  I  haoo  a  banting  beono ; 
80S        this  day  god  hath  me  lent.*' 
of  ihai  Child  he  was  blythe ; 
ador  names  shee  went  beliae ; 
the  child  was  loaclye  gent. 
»H     U^ae  wee  now  of  this  chylde, 
&  taiko  W€«  of  his  mother  mild^ 
to  what  liand  god  her  sent. 


htm  iHiaMto 
htowUlt, 


vtofMa 


Mcttntimr, 
ChriilAljcU 


all  thai  ni^ht  on  the  rooko  shee  Ijiy  ; 
WIS     a  wind  row*  %'|Hm  thr '  clay, 

A  ffrom  tlie  I^ind  her  drineth. 
in  thai  Hliiji|)  was  neither  mant  nor  ore, 
bat  eaery  utreame  vpon  other 
•»»         th*ii  ffk-Ht  v|>on  her  driueth. 

A  as  the  ^rreat  booke  of  Il<)ome  Kaie«, 
shcc  was  wi'thont  mcato  •'*  dayes 
among  the  great  clifFes.* 


WnTf  hrr 


*  «K»TDTm.      T. 


«  MS.  rliiffr*.      K. 


372 


BOLAMOBE. 


and  then 
roaobes 

Egypt. 


The  King 


sends  a 
squire  to  her. 


Christobell 
cannot  speak 
to  the  squire. 


824     by  that  5  dajes  were  gone, 
god  sent  her  sncconr  soone  ; 
in  oegipt  ^  shee  arrined. 

72 
the  King  of  ^gipt  ^  lay  in  his  tower, 
828     &  saw  the  Ladye  as  white  as  fflower 
that  came  right  neere  the  Land ; 
he  comanded  a  Squire  firee 
to  '  Looke  what  in  that  shipp  might  bee 
832         that  is  ypon  the  sand.' 

the  Squier  went  thither  ffiill  tite, 

on  the  shipbord  he  did  smite, 

a  Ladye  vp  then  gan  stand ; 

836     Shee  might  not  speake  to  him  a  word, 

but  lay  &  looked  oner  the  bord, 

&  made  signes  with  her  hand.^ 


[page 


who  goes 
back  to  the 
King, 


and  tells 
him  what  a 
lovely 
foreign 
woman  he 
has  seen. 


73 
the  sqoier  wist  not  what  shee  ment ; 
840    againe  to  the  King  he  went, 
&  kneeled  on  his  knee : 
''  Lord,  in  the  shipp  nothing  is, 
saning  one  in  a  womans  Likenesse 
844         tJiat  fifast  looked  on  mee. 

bnt  on  '  shee  be  of  fflesh  &  bone, 
a  fiairer  saw  I  nener  none, 
sane  my  Ladye  soe  firee !  * 
848     shee  maketh  signes  with  her  hand ; 
shee  seemeth  of  some  fiarr  Land  ; 
vnknowen  shee  is  to  mee.^ 


*  The  MS.  may  be  either  G3  or  ^  in 
this  and  other  cases. — ^F. 
»  The  Thornton  text  adds : 
Make  we  mervfor  Goddya  est; 
Thi/8  yd  the  thryddfytte  o/oufre  geate. 


That  dar  y  take  a»  Aandt.— F. 

*  an,  if.— F. 

*  But  hyt  were  llaxy  free. — ^T. 

*  fieyonde  the  Ghral^s  see^— T. 


EOLAMORr  373 

74 

Sir  Mamuulake  '  highet  iho  Kin^,*  Kiaf  mmt- 

■UMluJks 

MS     he  went  to  see  that  sweet  thing, 
he  went  a  good  p«oe. 
to  the  Lttdyo  ho  said  in  same,  f^  ^^„ 

"  speake,  woman,  on  goda  name  !  "  JJJ*^  *® 

856        against  him  shee  rose. 

the  Ladj  thai  was  soe  meeke  &  milde, 
shoe  had  bewept  sore  her  child^ 
thai  almost  gone  sheo  was.' 
S60    home  to  the  court  they  her  Ledd^  uk«  her 

With  good  mcates  they  her  fiedd ;  *  coan. 

With  good  will  shee  itt  taketh/  wcu. 

75 
"  Now,  good  damsell,*'  said  the  KiW  »«>  ^}^ 

B€4     *'  where  were  jon  borne,  mj  sweet  thing  ? 
jee  are  soe  bright  of  blee." 
'*  Lord,  in  Artois  borne  I  was ;  ChrtrtAbdi 

Sir  Prinsamonre  my  fiather  was,  ' 

86S         /A/it  Lord  is  of  that  Count  rye ; 

I  and  my  maidens  went  to  play  ud  mjt  the 

by  an  arme  of  the  fiea  ; 

locund  wee  were  and  lollye: 
s?9     they  wind  was  lithe,  a  bote  there  stood,  ,«« into  a 

I,  •         •  1  t*wt  with 

and  my  sqnior  m  yode,  h«r  boy, 

but  mchristened  was  hc*e. 


76 
'*  on  Und  I  lofil  my  maidenn  all, 
•76     my  younge  s<}nier  on  sKi*po  gan  flail, 

my  mantle  al  on  him  I  threw;  J^hJJ**"" 

BIADtJk. 

•  Varma^ak*-  t-rm*  inbjiTi  Iwro  from       t^OT*  "  a  nam^. — F. 

•m.alQk*-  — Vvtkcxl  iKiir.  •  Shr  w»»  wrxro  td\r  hoTte. — T. 

•  Itr  lh*«u  •w^rv  that  grntjrUr  kjQg^.  •  lhrWcyu«  inHTvthej  bar  ImmU. — T. 
T      T.  (kM«tt't  gir9   ••  Tb«    kjia|{  of  •  trhv  tbrin  U»e.— T. 


374 


EGLAMOllE. 


and  agrifflin 
flew  away 
with  him. 


"All  right, 
yon  shall  bo 
my  nioce 
them.-** 


and  Christa- 
bcll  Htaya  in 
Egypt. 


a  griffon  there  came  thni  rought  mc  care, 
my  younge  squier  away  hee  bare, 
880        southeast  with  him  hee  drew." 

"  damsell,"  he  said,  "  be  of  good  cbeere, 
thon  art  my  brothers  daughter  deere.*' 
ffor  loy  of  him  shoe  louge  ; 
884     ^  ^  there  shee  did  still  dwell 
till  time  thai  better  beffell, 
with  ioy  and  mirth  enoughe.^ 


[Part  v.] 

[llow  Eglamore  comes  back  to  Artois,  and  goes  to  the  Holy  Land  for 
fifteen  years ;  and  how  Christabell  marries  her  own  son.] 


Afl  soon  as 

Eglumoro 

rocovura, 

he  loaves 
llomc. 


to  pro  home 
toChrista- 
bell. 


He  reaches 
Artois, 


and  his 
squire  tells 
him  that 
Chrii«tabeU 
is  dead. 


6:**  parte 

892 


77 

Now  is  Eglamore  whole  &  sound, 
888  &  well  healed  of  his  wound  ; 

homeward  then  wold  hee  fiare. 
of  the  Emperour  he  tooke  leaue  I-wis, 
of  the  daughter,  &  of  the  Empresse, 

&  of  all  the  moany  that  were  there. 
Christabell  was  most  in  his  thought : 
the  dragons  head  hee  home  brought, 
on  his  speare  he  itt  bare. 
896    by  that  7  wockes  were  come  to  end, 
in  the  land  of  Artoys  can  he  Lend, 
wheras  the  Erie  gan  &re. 

78 

in  the  court  was  told,  as  I  vnderstand, 
900    how  th^t  Eglamore  was  come  to  Land 
with  the  dragons  head. 
his  Squier  rode  againe  him  soone, 
"  Sir,  thus  hath  our  Lord  doone  ;  * 
904        fiaire  Christabell  is  dead ! 


>— >  Kcpc  we  thys  lady  whyte  as  flowre,         Now  comyth  to  hym  om  y-iiO|^— ' 
And  speko  we  of  syr  li^Uamowre ;       '  Lo !  lorde^  what  the  ccle  hafth  doiw  I- 


BGLAMORB. 


375 


9tMI 


a  ffiuro  aonno  ahee  had  borne  ; 
'but he  they  are  now  fibrlomo 

throngh  his  fiahse  read ; ' 
In  '  a  ahipp  hee  put  them  2, 
&  with  the  wind  let  them  goe.** 

then  swooned  '  he  where  hee  stood. 


CiMifBaoe] 


Her  fkthflr 
•ent  her  mkI 
btrboj 


oattOHA  In 
Bihip. 


79 


«« 


ahM !  *'  then  said  the  Knight  soe  firee, 
919     *'  Lord  !  where  may  my  maidens  bee 
iluii  in  her  chamber  was  f  " 
the  Squier  answered  him  ffoll  soonc, 
*'  as  soone  as  shee  was  doone, 
916        ech  one  their  way  did  passe." 
EgUmore  went  into  the  hall 
before  the  Sqniers  &  knights  all : 
*'  &  then,  Erie  of  Artoys  ! 
990     take/*  he  said,  '*  the  dragons  head  ! 
all  his  mine  thai  hero  his  lead ! 
what  dost  thoQ  in  this  place  ?  '*  ^ 


Chrlfltabdrt 


ffoeatotlM 
Barlof 
Artota, 
fflYethtai 


*^^|fM  all 

uMlMJuhlm 
wlMihe'a 
dolaf  tiMft. 


so 
gn^t  dole  itt  was  to  hccro 
V34     whc*Q  ho  called  Christabell  his  fere : 

**  wliat !  art  thoa  drowned  in  the  sea  ? 
gixl  thai  dyed  on  the  rood  bitterly e,* 
on  thy  ftoule  hauc  mercye, 
92**         and  on  Mat  younge  child  soe  firce  !  '* 
the  Hrle  was  soe  foard  of  Kglamore 
thai  he  was  ffaine  to  take  his  tower  ;  * 


BcUmoiv 

ClirUalwU 
ttwl  her  boy. 


TJ»e  erl*"  h«th  hr»  Irfc  farlnrni*. 
H*-  WA«  U4h««  whrte  AOii  rude. — T. 
•  /.n  ia  MS -P. 

'    >W.M.Ultt4  WM»  tb«  OMTrCt    thiOK    fuT 

I  ki^v^*'.  «^1  (^  vvfT  m«ch  IfM  |>n>T«>- 
M:i"U  tiiMD  thw.  .Sor  maajr  inaUnec* 
«  Srymi  UrmU,  4c.  4c.     it  UiuluiacU 


iho  |<o*iM^«ioo  of  dclirat^  fwlinjr*. — F. 

•  AlU  jt  mirn  tluit  heir  j%  Ifrrtld. 
Tbou  Mttjr*!  in  my  plnce. — T. 

•  on  cTiM»tt«  Tenre.—T. 

•  The  ttXo  ro«c  up  and  toke  a  tovrv. 
~T. 


376 


EGLAMORE. 


and  calls  on 
all  who  want 
knighthood 
to  go  with 
him. 


thut  enormore  woe  him  bee  ! 
932     Eglamore  said,  "soe  god  mo  sauo, 

all  that  the  order  of  Kni^At-hoode  will  liauo, 
rise  vp  &  goe  with  mee !  " 


IlednbB 

thirty-two 

knights, 


starts  for  the 
Holy  Land, 


81 

they  were  fitill  faine  to  do  his  will ; 
936     vp  they  rose,  &  came  him  till ; 
he  gane  them  order  soone. 
the  while  that  ho  in  hall  abode, 
32  ^  knights  he  made, 
940        fifrom  mome  till  itt  was  noone. 
'  those  thai  lining  had  none, 
he  gane  them  lining  to  line  vpon, 
fifor  Christabell  to  pray  soone. 
944     then  anon,  X  vnderstand, 

he  tooke  the  way  to  the  holy  Land^ 
where  god  on  the  rood  was  done. 


and  lives 
there  fifteen 
years, 


fighting  all 
wrong- 
livers. 


His  son 
Dograbell 
is  now 
grown  big, 


82 

Sir  Eglamore,  as  yon  heare, 
948    he  dwelled  there  15  yeere 

the  heathen  men  amonge ; 
finll  manfiVdlye  he  there  him  bare, 
where  any  deeds  of  armes  were, 
952        against  him  that  lined  wronge. 
in  battell  or  in  tnmament 
there  might  no  man  withstand  his  dent^ 
but  downe  right  he  him  thronge. 
966    by  that  15  yeeres  were  gone, 

his  Sonne  that  the  griffon  had  tane, 
was  waxen  both  stiffe  and  stronge. 


»  V.  and  thretty.— T. 
'  And  he  that  was  the  porest  of  them 
alio, 
He  gaf  for  Crystyabollys  sonle 
Londys  to  levo  upon. 


A  thousand^  as  ▼  QndiintoDde» 
He  toke  with  nym,  aod  w«nt 
the  Holy  Londe, 
There  Qod  on  oioi  wbm  done.- 


EOULHOUE. 


377 


83 

now  wa«  dograbcll  waxen  wight ; 
960     the  Kin*j  of  Iiiarcll  dabbd  him  a  Kniijht 
and  Prince  with  his  hand. 
LdHten,  Lords  great  and  small, 
of  what  manner  of  armes  ho  bare, 
944         &  jee  will  vnderataiid  : 

he  bare  in  aznre,  a  grilfon  of  gold 
rich  lye  portrayed  in  the  mold, 
on  his  clawes  hanginge 
9C8    a  man  child  in  a  mantle  ronnd 
A  with  a  girdle  of  gold  bonnd, 
without  any  Leasinge. 


todobbed 
kBlfht, 


htoarau 


oasahiddof 
mxotm 
a  foldcn 
frilBa 


earrjiagtL 
boy  with  a 
ftnllBof 
gukL 


84 

the  Kill/;  of  Isarell,  hee  waxed  old  ; 
972     to  d€*grabell  his  sonne  he  told, 
**  I  wold  thon  had  a  wifie 
while  thai  I  line,  my  sonne  deero ; 
when  I  am  dead,  thon  hast  noe  fiere, 
9T6         richim  in  soe  riffc.'*  • 

a  mesM*ii^*r  stotxle  by  the  Kin^j  : 
^*  in  -^gipt  is  a  swii*t  thin^, 
I  know  noe  sacli  on  Hue ; 
9«M)     the  Kiiiy,  fTorsooth,  this  (»ath  hath  swome, 
then*  Hhall  none  her  haue  thai  is  bume 

Hut  he  winne  her  bv  Mtrifl'e." 
tlu*  King  said,  **  by  the  nKnl, 
VH4     wtv  will  not  liett  if  shee  btv  pHxl ; 
haae  done,  A  bunke  vh  swythe.** 
anon -right  thc»y  made  them  yiin% 
A  their  armour  to  the  shipp  the  lian*, 
v***         t4>  |iaiise  the*  watter  lieliae. 


TheKlnir  of 

ImreUaiin 

UecrAbeUlfO 


TV7  aw 

tofclof 

(lirijCAbplI 


but  h0  who 
vine  htr 
[CMC*  30f  1    ■><"*  flffitt 


Thiry  BMkr 


•Ail  off. 


t.jl..     II. 


'  Wh^n  T  am  dr«l«l,  tb-  o  !?••<>«<  no  p»Tr, 
Of  17COM  ibou  ut  to  f7lf.  -  T. 

CO 


378 


EaLAMORE. 


land  iu 
Egypt, 

ami 

announce 
their  coming 
to  the  King 
of  Egypt. 


ITo  welcomes 
tlicni, 


85 

by  ttliat  7  dayes  ^  were  comen  to  end, 
in  segipt  Land  they  gan  Lend, 
the  vnconthe  cosies  to  see.' 
992    messengers  went  before  to  tell, 
"  here  cometh  the  King  of  Isarell 

with  a  fiaire  Meany, 
Sd  the  Prince  with  many  a  Kni^^t, 
996     fifor  to  haue  your  daughter  bright, 
if  itt  your  wil  be." 
the  "King  said,  *'  I  trow  I  shall 
ffind  Lodging'  flbr  you  all ; 
1000        right  welcome  yee  are  to  mee  !  " 


lf>adf)  tlie 
Kinf;  of 
It«are]l  into 
the  hall, 


86 

then  tmmpetts  in  the  shipp  ^  rose, 
&  enery  man  to  Land  goes ; 

the  Knighis  were  clothed  in  pall. 
1004     the  younge  Knight  of  15  yeere, 
he  rydcth,  as  yee  may  heere, 

a  fifoote  abone  them  all. 
tlio  King  of  Isarell  on  the  Land, 
1008    the  King  of  ^gipt  takes  him  by  the  hand 
&  Lcdd  him  into  the  hall : 
*  "  Sir,"  said  the  Kifig^  "  ffor  charitye, 
will  you  lett  mee  your  daughter  see,* 
1012        white  as  bone  of  whall  P  " 


and  lct«  him 
Me  ChriAta- 
bell. 

Her  son 
Degrabcll 
dciiircs  bar, 


1016 


87 

the  Lady  ffrom  the  chamber  waa  brought ; 
w/th  mans  hands  shee  seemed  wrought 

&  earned  out  of  tree, 
her  ownc  sonne  stood  A  beheld  : 


>  Bo  th[r]o  wckys.— T. 

*  Ther  forsus  for  to  knowe  8w;)'the. 


— T. 


*  redy  yustyng.— T. 


*  Trampus  in  the  topp  CMteUe.— T» 

*  Y  prey  the  thoa  gyf  me  a  aytfd 
Of    CryatTabellflii    yowre  dogbtj 

bryght.— T, 


fiOLAIfOBE. 


379 


**  well  worthye  him  that  might  wold !  " 

thus  to  himAclfe  thought  hec. 
the  King  of  Isarell  asked  then 
loio     if  that  she  '  might  passe  the  strcamo, 
his  sonncs  wiffc  ffor  to  bee. 
"  Sir,"  said  the  Ki'ii^,  "  if  thai  you  may 
meete  mo  a  stroako  to-morrowe, 
ioi4         thino  asking  grant  I  thee.** 

SS 
I»rds  in  hall  were  sott, 
&  waites  blew  to  tho  meate. 
they  mado  all  royall  cheere ; 
lOis     the  2  Kif^js  the  desso  began,* 

8iV  Degrabell  &  his  mother  then, 

the  2  were  sibb  fiull  neere. 
then  KnighiM  went  to  sitt  I«wis, 
I032     &  enery  man  to  his  o£Bce, 

to  serae  tho  Knights  deere  ; 
A  afiler  mcato  washed  they,' 
A  Clarkt*ii  grace  gan  say 
I0A«         in  liall,  as  yon  may  luKire. 

89 
then  on  the  morrow  when  day  sprong 
f^'Utlemcn  in  their  armour*  throng, 
lK*^n^bt*ll  was  di^ht ; 
|o40     the  King  of  ^lifipt  gan  him  Hay 
in  a  tfain*  fTet^ld  /A<it  day 

With  many  a  noble  Knight, 
wliat  time  the  groat  l^onl  might  him  see, 
1014     they  aMkc*<l,  '*  wliat  Ltnl  ihni  might  bee 
with  the  trnff«»n  lux*  briifht  'f  ** 


Mid  may 
hiiT«  )irr  If 


Tbfy  diM, 


andDefrm* 
bell  and  hl« 
Booiher  hart 
thrhlfb 


Kcxtday 


nnrrmiM>n 

•rm«. 
ami  tiM* 
Kln«  »r 
E«7p(  trUm 
hUn. 


•  M<   thr       Vf  •he-   T.     (wilh  olhrr 

'   hfc.i  th*  ch»rf  •rrtts  ()Q  ih»*  'Uia.  -  F 

•  Sr**  til'  oi^-ratHHi  «i»»i'riUii  in   l%* 
h  it  */  CmrlMSft  ^r.  ^E.  E.  Tr&t  tfuc. 


IH67).     K.     T.  ha»! 

AAur  mrtf*.  tlian  ac^r^l^  thrr 

•   lO  llATUila  — T. 


c  c  2 


EOLAMOBE. 


381 


"  Sir,  in  your  armes  now  I  seo 
a  flbulo  thai  [raflc]  on  a  timo  fTrom  mee 
a  child  ihai  I  dccre  bought,* 
1076     thai  in  a  scarlctt  mantle  was  wound, 
&  in  a  girdle  of  gold  bound 

thai  richely  wa8  wrought." 
tho  Kin*j  of  lAarell  said  ffull  right, 
lt>80     "  in  my  flbrrcst  the  flbulo  gan  Light ; 
a  griflbn  to  Land  him  brought.*' 


Mid  u^  him 
bow  a  bird 
took  her  bojr 
awaj. 


to  ftBuuitle, 
and  with  a 
Coldginlle 


The  Kiaf  of 
iMkrrll  ■ayt 
theUriAn 
alighted  ia 
hie  land, 


95 

he  sent  a  8<|uier  ffull  hend, 
&  bade  him  ffbr  tho  mantle  wcnde 
1084         tliat  hee  was  in  Lajd. 

befforo  him  itt  was  brought  ffull  yarc, 
the  girdle  &  tho  mantle  there, 
thai  richlyo  were  graued. 
lot)     ''alas  !  **  then  said  that  Lady  ffree, 

**  this  same  the  Griffon  tooke  ffrom  mee.*' 

in  swoning  downe  shoe  braid. 
'*  how  long  agoc  ?  '*  the  K/ny  gan  say. 
I092     **  Sir,  ir>  ywre  par  ma  ffny.** 

they  asftenteil  to  thai  shfo  said. 


aadtheboT 
wae  fasoofhi 
to  him. 


ChrbtabeU 
•ajetheboy 


andtt*! 
flfleen  jean 
ago. 


94 

**  fforwxjth,  my  Konne,  I  am  afraid 
th'ti  U't '  hibb  mar)'a^»  wtv  haue  made 
l<'V6         in  tho  Wginninge  of  this  moone.'* 

*•  (lam.Hfll,  lo<>k(% — WH*  go<l  mo  saue  ! — 
w/n'rh  of  my  Kn/y/itH  thou  wilt  haue.** 
then  dt*jrnilH*ll  anHwertnl  g4M>ne, 
1101}     "Sir,  I  hold  you^r^  Krle«  ^hhI, 

«!b  S4H*  I  d«K«  my  m<»thiT,  by  thi»  nnxlo, 
tfiiti  I  wpdde<l  lH»fon»  tliry  n(K>ue  ; 


HhetrlU  hrr 
K»fi'hu*baad 
that  tbrir 
marriage  ie 

TUkl. 


The  King 
offer*  hrr 
any  htt*tMU»d 
•he'll  chouiew 


DrgrmhcU. 


'  l)jkt  wimeCrmi*  raft^  a cbjUlr  fn»  m<»,  '  \\li«ii  to  tUotle  ft>r  foOfthe  o  vill  Im 

A  knfght  fuilr  dcrr  h%m  Ujgbi.— T.       arcrotcd  hrrcAftrr.— F, 


382 


SaLAMORE. 


the  kniirhti* 
UiUf4  fltclit 
for  ber. 


1104 


All  the  lords 
•gr%«  to 

do  ID. 


1108 


there  shall  none  hane  her  certainlje 
hut  if  he  winne  her  with  maister^^e 
as  I  mj-selfe  hane  doone." 

95 
then  eueiy  Ix>rd  to  other  gan  say, 
"  ffor  her  I  will  make  delay  * 

with  a  speare  &  sheeld  in  hand  ; 
who-soe  may  winno  that  Lady  clere, 
ffor  to  be  his  wedded  ffere, 

must  wed  her  in  that  Land." 


[PartVL] 

[How  Eglamoro  won  back  his  lost  love  ChristabeD,  and  married  hrr.] 


Et^laiDore, 


many  lorcbt. 


And  tho 
Kiuff  of 
Sattin,  come 
to  tho 
tourney. 

Li«t*«  are 
prepcu^, 


and  nil  tbc 
lonli*  niukc 
ready. 


96 


1112 


6f  Parte  < 


1120 


1121 


Sir  Eglamoro  was  homward  bowne, 
he  hard  tell  of  thnt  great  renowne, 

&  thither  wold  hee  wend.* 
great  Lords  thai  hard  of  ^^at  crye, 
they  rode  thither  hastilye, 

as  ffast  as  they  might  ffare. 
the  King  of  Sattin  ^  was  thero  alsoe, 
&  other  great  Lords  many  more 
that  royall  armes  *  bare. 
Then  ringcs  were  made  in  the  ffeeld 
that  Lor(?s  might  thorin  weld ; 

th6  busked  &  made  them  yare. 
S/r  Eglamore,  thoo  he  came  Last, 
he  was  not  worthy  out  to  be  cast ; 
that  "Knight  was  clothed  in  care. 


*  For  liur  lovo  we  wyllo  tumay. — T. 

*  By  rhyme  this  triplet  belongs  to  tho 
last  stanza.  It  is  put  there  in  the 
Thornton  text,  which  adds  after  it  the 
stanza  about  Eglamore's  arms,  given,  in 
an  altered  state,  as  st.  97  in  our  print 


bolow. — F. 

"  "Sydon  (Cotton  M.)"  mark.<l  in 
pencil  on  the  margin  of  the  3IS.— F. 
Sydone.— T. 

*  yoly  colonrys. — T. 


IfULAMUili:. 


383 


97 

ffor  thai  Christabell  was  put  to  the  sea, 
112a     new  armea  bearelh  lice, 
I  will  them  ^cacrjo  : 
he  bcaretb  in  azure  a  shipp  of  gold, 
flail  rich  lye  portrayed  on  the  mold, 

1 135  flail  well  &  worthy  lye ; 

the  Bca  was  made  both  grim  &  bold ; 
a  yoange  child  of  a  night  old, 
&  a  woman  Lying  there  by  ; 

1 136  of  siluer  was  the  mast,  of  gold  the  ffiuio ' ; 
sayle,  ropers,  &  cables,  eche  one 

painted  were  worthylye. 


Eclamore 
buunM 
mrvM,  on  a 
blue  ftbk'kl 


with  a  child, 
and  a 

troouuiljinc 
l^it. 


9S 

heralds  of  armes  soone  on  hye, 
1 140    euery  Lords  armes  gan  descryo 
in  thai  fleeld  soe  broade.* 
then  Chr[i]Htabell  as  white  as  fllower, 
nhe  Hate  vpon  a  hye  tower ;  * 
1 144         flbr  her  fhni  cryc  was  made. 

the  younjre  kn/y/it  of  10  yet-re  old 
//.'it  woM  Iwth  doaphtye  A  bold, 
into  tho  ffifld  hv  rude. 
lU'*     \*hc>-j»oe  thai  Sir  I)ef»TalH*ll  did  smite, 
With  his  dint  thoy  Sell  tyte, 
neuer  a  one  his  stroake  alnMlr. 


CbriiAafarU 
i4uln  ahlffh 
low«r: 


h«v  mm 
IXfrrabell 


ri«l««  Into 
Ibeflckl, 


an«l  MU  all 
whoatladu 
him. 


ilV 


Sir  Ktflanioie  houinl  *  A  U*ht'ild 

It  Si     how  tho  folke  in  the  feild  downe  fc!d 

tht'v  Kiii»/Ats  all  by-dtrn*'. 


Ejrlaamcv 
luok»<m. 


1  .:.    a  Wf nth'T  ^«V:.  which   lurxis 

•    i*  tKr  W.u.l  <h»n;:r«.  and  nhrwt 

.   w*. »:   c^uAilrr  it  li'«>«»,     rhiilipa. 

Tw'  '.l-rtr  lir.rt  af-^tc  are  oot  io  T. 


-K. 

•  Wa*   1  nvht    to   u    comrr    uf    ll»« 
wallr.-T. 

•  halfttl.  §tiN*l  atill.     Thr  ftrrt  ihn* 
liora  of  tiii»  MtJiiiai  arr  DoC  in  T.— F. 


384 


SOLAMORE. 


DegnbeU 
•iikthim 
why  be 
■taodaitiU. 


**BecaiuieI 
•m  come  oat 
of  bcatben 


when  Dcgrabell  him  Bee,  he  rode  him  tUl,' 
&  said,  "  Sir,  why  are  you  soe  still 
1156        amonge  all  these  KnigJita  keene  ?  '' 
Eglamore  said  to  him  J^wis,' 
*'  I  am  come  ont  of  heathenesse, 
itt  were  sinne  mee  to  meete.'  " 
1160     Degrahell  said,  '^  soe  mote  I  thee  ! 
more  worshipp  itt  had  beene  to  thee, 
vnarmed  to  hane  beene." 


llftren't  yoa 

jonstinfc 

cnoagfa? 


1164 


1168 


nibsTea 
tiim  with 
you." 


100 

the  ffather  on  the  sonne  Longh ; 
"  hane  yee  not  lasting  cmoughe  ^ 

where  ener  thai  yon  bee  ? 
(hat  day  flail  hane  I  seene, 
wtth  as  bigg  men  hane  I  beene, 

Ayctt  well  gone  my  way. 
&  yctf.,  ffbrsooth,"  said  he  then, 
'*  I  will  doe  as  well  as  I  can, 

wtth  yon  once  to  play." 
They  charge.     | ,  yg     heard  together  they  Imights  donge 

with  great  speares  sharpe  and  longe  ; 

them  beheld  echo  one. 
Str  Eglamore,  as  itt  was  his  happ,^ 
gine  his  sonne  snch  a  rappe  ^ 

that  to  the  ground  went  hee. 

101 
"  alas  !  "  then  said  that  Ladye  ffree, 
"  my  sonne  is  dead,  by  gods  pittye ! 

the  keene  kiught  hath  him  slaino !  " 
then  men  said  wholy  on  mold, 
"  the  K.night  that  beares  the  shipp  of  gold 

hath  wonno  her  on  the  plaine." 


Eglamore 
fdvcA  hia  fion 
a  rap, 
(rroandii 
him, 


1176 


1180 


and  wins 
ChristabeU. 


*  He  scnde  a  knyght  anon  fullo  styllc.  *  T.  alters  this  and  the  noxt  nin« 

— T.  linos.— F. 

"  Ho  seydc,  Syr  recreawntos. — T.  *  tumyd  hys  swordc  flatt. — T. 

«  tene,  T.,  which  is  better.— F.  •  patte.— T. 


EGLAMORE. 


385 


103 

1184     Herallds  of  armes  cryed  then, 

"  is  there  now  any  manner  of  man 

will  make  his  body  good, 
that  will  inst  any  more  ? 
1188     say  now  while  wee  be  here  !  " 

then  a  while  they  still  stoode. 
Degrabell  said,  "  by  god  almight ! 
methinkes  that  I  durst  wtth  him  ffight, 
1192         if  he  were  nener  soe  wood." 
Lords  together  made  a  vow, 
"  flTorssooth/'  they  said,  "  best  worthy  art  thou 
to  hane  thy  ffreelye  flood  !  " 

103 

1196     flbr  to  vnarme  him  Lords  gan  goe ; 
'  clothes  of  gold  on  him  they  doe, 

&  then  to  meate  th6  wende. 
Sir  Eglamore  then  wan  the  gree, 
1200     beside  the  Lady  sett  was  hee  : 

shee  frened  him  as  her  flreind,> 
"  flbr  what  cause  that  he  bore 
a  shipp  of  gold  with  mast  &  ore." 
1204         he  said  with  words  hende, 

'*  damsel],  into  the  sea  was  done 
my  Lady  &  my  younge  ^  sonne  ; 
&  there  they  made  an  ende." 


Heralds 

ask  if  any 
one  else  will 
fight 
Eglamore. 


None 
anawcr 


aoChrista- 
beUis 
adjadgod  to 
bim. 


Eglamore 
is  clad  in 
cloth  of  gold, 


and  sits  in 
the  chief 
place  with 
ChriatabelL 
Sheaaks 
him  why 
his  arms 
are  a  ship. 


"Bocanse 
my  lady  and 
son  were 
pat  to  sea, 
and  died." 


104 


1208     '  knowledge  to  him  tooke  shee  thoe ; 
"  now,  good  Sir,  tell  me  soe, 

where  they  were  brought  to  ground  ?  "   [page  312]  th^'bnn^d? 


*— *  In  cortyls,  sorcatys,   and  schorte 
clothys, 
That  doghty  weryn  of  dede. 
Two  kyngys  tie  deyse  began, 


Syr  Egyllamowre  and  Crystyabello 
than ; 
Ihesu  ua  alle  spede  I — T. 
*  lemman  and  my  yongest. — T. 
■  T.  omitfl  the  next  six  linet*. — F 


38t> 


EGLAMOlilS. 


•waj'. 
IIiT  fntluT 
M-iit  lii-r  to 
f-m  to 
druwii." 


Wimt  if* 
yuur  name  ? 


iinin-  of 
AnoiA" 


"  while  I  was  in  fiarr  conntije 
1212     her  ffather  put  her  into  the  sea^ 
With  the  wanes  to  confonnde." 
wi'th  honest  mirth  &  game 
of  him  shee  asked  the  name ; 
1216         &he  answered  that  stond, 

"  men  call  mee,  where  I  was  bore, 
of  Artojs  S/r  f^lamore, 

that  With  a  worme  was  wound.'' 


Chrij^tabcll 

awfiou*, 

then 

wolcomoi 

Eglamore, 

and  tcrlli 
what  ^he  has 
eufferud. 


iini't  when 
Ihty  l^•a^t 
txncct  it.) 


The  Kinp  of 
Isnrcll  tolls 
how  he 
fotiml 


105 

1 220     in  swooning  ficll  that  Lady  firce ; 
"  welcome,  S/r  Eglamore,  to  mee  ! 

thy  Lone  I  haue  bought  full  dcerc ! 
then  shee  sate,  &  told  full  soone 
1224     how  into  the  sea  shoe  was  doone  ; 
then  wept  botli  lesse  and  more. 
1  minstrills  had  their  gifits  firec, 
wlierby  the  might  the  better  bee  ; 
1228         to  spend  they  wold  not  spare.* 
ITiill  true  itt  is,  by  god  in  heaueii, 
that  men  meete  att  vnsett  steven,' 
&  see  itt  beffell  there. 

106 
1232     the  King  of  Isarell  gan  tell 

how  iJiat  bee  found  S/r  Degrabell ; 
Lordings,  Listen  t'  en :  * 


v> 


*  This  pontic  reminder  to  tho  hearers 
of  their  duty  to  the  singers  of  the  Ko- 
mauoo  is  rejvated  with  some  Yuriatiun 
at  tho  end. — F. 

■  For  tho  former  part  of  this  st.  106, 
T.  has,  St.  CXI.  p.  171: 
There  was  many  n  rul»e  of  pnlle; 
The  chyldo  servyd  in  the  hallo 

At  the  fyrste  mote  that  day. 
Provely  sclio  to  hjTn  spake, 
**  joudur  ys  thy  fndnr  that  the  gate  !  " 

A  grete  yoye  hyt  was  to  see  ay 


When  he  knelyd  downe  on  hvs  kuc, 
Ther  was  niouy  an  herte  sor^. 

Be  God  that  dyed  on  a  trt-e !— F. 

'  unfixed  time,  time  not  apj^-'in: 
Compare  Chaucer,  in  The  KnightteT; 
1.  666,  V.  ii.  p.  47,  cd.  Morris  T 
It  is  fill  fair  a  man  to  here  him  evene 
For  at  day  metcth  men  attt  unset  st(f 
Ful  litel  woot  Arcite  of  his  felawe, 
That  was  so  neih  to  herken  of  his  a 
— F. 

*  Knyghtys    Ivstcnyd    ther-lo  tl 
— T. 


E6LAM0RE. 


387 


Sir  Eglamore  kneeled  on  bis  knee, 
1236     "  my  Lord !  "  lie  said,  **  god  yeeld  itt  thee ! 
yee  hane  made  him  a  May.*  " 
the  King  of  Isarell  said,  "  I  will  the[e]  gine 
halfe  my  kindome  while  I  doe  line, 
1240        my  deore  sonne  as  white  as  swan." 

"  thou  shalt  hane  my  daughter  Amada," 
the  "King  of  Sattin  sayd  alsoe, 

"  I  remember,  since  then  her  wan." 


and  gives 
him  half  his 
kingdom. 


The  King  of 
Rattin 
also  gives 
his  daughter 
Amadato 
DegiBbelL 


107 

1244     ^  Eglamore  prayed  the  Kings  8 
att  his  wedding  ffor  to  bee, 

if  that  they  wold  vonch[8]afe. 
all  granted  him  that  there  were, 
1248     litle,  Icsse,  &  more; 

Lord  lesns  christ  them  hane  ! 
Kings,  Erles,  I  vnde[r] stand, 
wiYh  many  dukes  of  other  Lands, 
1 252         with  loy  &  mirth  enonghe. 

the  tmmpetts  in  the  shipp  blowes, 
thai  enery  man  to  shipp  goes, 
the  winde  them  oner  blew. 


Eglamoro 
invitM  every 
one  to  his 
wedding. 


AH  accept, 


sail  off. 


108 

125G     through  gods  might,  all  his  meany 
in  good  liking  passed  the  sea ; 

in  Artois  they  did  arriue. 
the  Erie  then  in  the  tower  stoode, 
1 260    he  saw  men  passe  the  £Bood, 

&  ffast '  to  his  horsse  gan  driue. 


and  rrach 

Artois 

safely. 

The  old  Enrl 


an. — T.      Ma^  generally    means 
n ;  but  maue,  may:,  is  a  kinsman  ; 
:.  mtpg,  a  son,  kinsman. — F. 
shortens  and  alters  this  stanza 


and  part  of  the  next — F. 

'  i!?o  in  printed  copy,  but  very  different 
in  the  Ck)tton  MS. — Pencil  note,  in  MS. 


wben  he  hemid  of  ^lamore, 

-^*J^  '.:-.  t  hs  ffeQ  cnxt  of  his  tower 

kL- :  .— t^  i«S4        «fc  broke  his  necke  beline. 

the  messenger  went  agmine  to  tell 
of  r^'it  case,  how  itt  beffell : 
'ywt^Bf^j-..  With  god  jDMj  no  mmn  strine. 


7«:«- 


*-r!r>c*o*.-'. 


109 

I i<^     ^  thus  in  Artois  the  Lords  th^  Lent; 
after  the  Emperoor  *  soone  the  sent^ 
to  come  to  that  Manjage  ; 
■ji  in  an  they  land  thej  mad  ciye, 

^  :^         iiTt    who>-5ce  wold  come  to  Mat  fieast  worthye, 

rifht  welcome  shold  thej  bee ; 
St'r  Eelamore  to  the  chnrch  is  gone, 
de^rabell  i:  Amada  thev  haae  tane, 
lire         and  his  Lady  bright  of  blee. 

the  Ki'h'J  of  Isarell  said,  **  He  gine 
halfe  JELY  land  while  I  line ; 
brooke  well  [all ']  after  my  day." 


110 

I2S0     w*th  mickle  mirth  the  feast  was  made, 
4*>  Jayes  itt  abode 

amonire  all  the  Lortfs  hend  : 
and  then  forsooth,  as  I  you  say, 
AT.'tVr  i::         I2S4     euory  man  tooke  his  way  [i« 

wherin  him  liked  to  dwell. 


Iji^-*  T.rr 


iv*CiC. 


'  T.  i'.ters  tbi5e  concludicg  ^taIl2as  a  The  mayster  of  hoepitalle 

C^v*  vital.-  F.  Come  over  with  a  cardimille, 

*  Aa  F-iu^vrv^r  w^is  thoitrht  nrn^essary  The  pK-t  kyng  of  Portyngille 

to  C'V'.  ihr  prv^ptT  ivlat  to  a  wedding :  With  knv^thiis  fol  kene. 

^  Th.r  vvm  tvl  hir  wMxne  ^  ^^  -^'*~«'.    P-    2o2-3.  Th 

An  f  v^vn  wiv  and  a  kyng.  Komances.— F. 
l!r^•htb^■v^.•hopl•z  with  rymr  •  all.     p.c. — Pencil  note.    T.  ^ 

M'>  thon  f}*t"lent' !  the   line.     Brooke   is  A.-S,  brwi 

enjoy. — F. 


EGLAMORB. 


389 


miiMtrellii  liad  good  groat  plentyo, 
thtit  caer  they  l)ettcr  may  the  boe, 
1S86         and  bolder  ffur  to  8|)ond. 
in  llonianji  this  Chronickle  is. 
dvn*  IvsuB !  bring  va  to  thj  bliaao 
that  laiituth  withoat  end  ! ' 

ffins. 


lfiiu«ivU 
tM  pirnty  of 


ChritftUcM 
MaUI 


r.  viikU  o|>  vith  **  Amvii.    Uere  eadjth  fjr  I^lUmowre  of  ArUi,  and  Uf^rn 
•ir  TrTABiuwrc." — K. 


'*  Wlt'H  Sofrlchiiig  Phobiui^**  prmte*!  in  Lo.  and  Ham.  SongR, 
j7».  rO-i<, /'//'/irjt  here  in  the  MS,^ 


I 


390 


rbr  emptronr  ^  tht  Ctiinir*^ 

Tex  following  piece  is  here  printed  for  the  first  time.  Pew 
dt^^bes  it  as  an  oUl  poem  ''  in  a  wretched  corrupt  sttte^a 
worthy  the  press."  Selecting  from  it  **  such  particalars  as  cai 
lie  adopted,"  he  composed  himself  a  poem  on  the  subject  of  i^ 
a  porm  in  Two  Parts,  altogether  some  400  lines  long,  b^iBia| 
in  this  wiie : 

WImv  Flort  *gms  to  decke  the  fi^ds 

With  coloon  &esh  and  fine, 
IV  bolj  derkes  their  mattins  siag 

To  good  Saint  Valentine !  &c. 

I<  this  style  so  very  much  worthier  of  the  press  than  that  of 

Within  the  Grecian  land  some  time  did  dwell 
An  Empeior.  whose  name  did  f;ir  excell^  Sec  ? 

We  dv^ubt  whether  either  piece  is  particularly  worthy  rf  4 
pTVtJss.  But  that  which  suited  best  the  taste  of  the  eighteed 
Oi:::.:ry  is  certainly  the  less  worthy  of  the  two.  That  caittt 
vV.iM  see  the  mote  in  the  eye  of  a  preceding  age,  but  not  tl 
l«e,un  in  its  own  eve. 

Ti.is  pieoe  is  evidently  of  very  late  origin,  written  atatii 
when  the  peri^>d  of  professional  ballad-makers  had  well  set  ii 

The  story  was,  in  prose,  extremely  popular.  This  prose  i* 
sion  was  a  translation  from  the  French.  Of  the  old  Freii 
rv>mance  an  analysis  is  given  in  the  Blblioth^qiie  des  RonM 
which  ranks  it  among  Romans  Historiqufs : ' — 

*  The  Old  song  of  Valentine  &  Ursin       Cheraliere  Valentin    et   Orson,  ^\ 
or  Orsin.  rEmpereur  de  Gr^oe  et  neneuido 

TVas  song  or  P<>*m  stvms  to  he  quite  chrvtien  Roi  de  Fninct»  P^pin,  co 

mi>ii<*ni  Vt  th«*  L&nj?uage  6z  Tersifieat,'('n.  74  chapitres,  U*squels  parlentde|^ 

N.B.     This  Poem  only  suggested  the  et  divers*^   maiieres   tr^s-plaismtes ' 

Mibitxrt  of  that  I  printc'd  on  Valentine  reoreatives.      Lvon,    1495.    in-foli<^ 

anvi  I'rsin. — P.  1590  in-octavo,  et  depois  a  TroT»,cl 

•  Histoiie  des  deux  nobles  et  vaillans  Oudot,  in-quarto. 


THB  KMPBBOUU   AND    THE   CHILD!.  391 

UB  avoxui  annonce  danfi  not  re  avani-demicr  volomo  qno  nonfl 
fl  encore  k  porler  d*an  roman  sin^Iier  ot  intiTefwant  concemant 
U  Roi  de  Franco,  premier  do  la  Hccondo  race  et  pere  do  Charlo- 
le ;  c*eat  celoi  dont  on  vient  de  lire  lo  titre.   D  est  bien  oonstam- 

hiatoriqae,  qnoique  rhiBtoire  j  soit  defignree ;  qoe  P6pin  y 
ipo  dans  des  pays  dont  il  n*a  jamais  approch^,  tels  que  Constan- 
le  et  Jemsalem,  qa*on  Vy  fasse  prisonnier  d*an  Boi  des  Indes, 
que  las  dome  pairs  de  Franco ;  qa*on  ajonte  k  cette  pr^tenduo 
riUo  les  ciroonstances  les  plus  ridicules  ;  qn*on  suppose  k  Pi*pin 
fila,  one  sooar  et  deux  neveox,  qui  n*ont  jamais  exists ;  enfin, 
(lie  les  commencements  do  rhistoiro  do  Charlemagne  quo  Ton 
e  dans  ce  roman-ci  soient  aoiuii  ^^loign^s  de  la  verity  que  ce  qui 
t  do  regno  de  Pop  in,  tout  cola,  cepcndant,  so  fait  lire  avec  plaisir ; 
los  croyons  qoe  nos  lectours  no  tronvoront  point  trop  long 
mt  tri*s^*taiUe  (|uo  nous  aliens  en  faire,  chapitre  par  chapitre, 
ricn  changer  k  Ha  marche,  et  respectant  presquo  6galement  lo 

qui  n*eiit  pa.^  si  gaulois  quo  cclai  des  antres  romans  de  che- 
ie  que  noo^  avons  cxtraits  jasqa*ik  present,  car  celai-ci  peat  ^tre 
•  dans  la  mome  chuwe :  on  peat  aossi,  si  Ton  vent,  le  compter 
i  le^  romans  d'amour,  car  malgro  les  ridicalitos  dont  il  est  rempli, 
itvhe  en  e«t  tK«»-n»galit»re.  L'luKtoirc  dcs  denx  freres  qui  en 
les  h«*roH  y  est  condaite  depais  Tinstant  do  lear  naissaneo 
i*a  k*ar  mort ;  tons  deax  sont  amoareux  et  ^poa^ent  enfin  lours 
v4sM»«.     Rion  ne  nous  prouve  quo  ce  roman  soit  fort  ancioii. 

nVn  cimnaisji  mn  auruiiM  inatiuHcritH  ;  et  ne  pouvant  parlor  d'lipri'S 
nu*nii*?«  do  la  promitTt*  tnlition  (in-fulio),  qui  est  tros-raro,  nous  no 
on*  rion  dans  la  woctrndo  (qui  est  cello  do  15t>U)  qui  porte  uno 
ino  mar(|uo  d'aiicionnoto,  non-seuloraent  dans  le  style,  mais  momo 
los  dotailis  ot  iitiu.H  no  croyons  ftaM  qu*on  puisse  en  (aire  remontor 
{uo  plus  liaut  (|no  lo  ri^^e  do  Charles  VllI,  temps  ou  beaucoup 
man^  do  ct*  p*nre  virotit  lo  jour,  les  uns  otant  tiros  de  quolquos 
L4rnu  plus  ancions,  los  autres  otant  tout  k  fait  nouveaux.  No 
MifiA  \ian  plus  loin  nos  rechon*hos  ot  nos  obM^nrations  proliminairo.H 
'aJentin  ot  Ornon,  ot  oomnion^Hins  notn»  oxtrait  on  suppliant  n«>s 
irn  d'avoir  do  rindulfronct*  |M)ur  la  simplicito  ot  la  bonhoniio 
l«*«<j!it«ll«ii  cot  ouvraj»^o  a  oto  comjKMk*.     On  y  trim  vera  bion  do.-* 

runoux  ot  dos  situations  tK^«i-inton*JiHant«*j<,  mrli''rt  avit*  niillo 
k»tatiri"<«  ridioul(*M.     Im  bingularito  do  tout  cola  ]>imrra,  du  niuin.t, 

rT. 

»ut«'ur  nicunto,  d*iilx)nl,  on  pou  do  motM,  In  touchanto  liiHtoin* 
•rtlio  au  grand  piod,  qui  a  (ait  la  matiore  d'un   rumau  entior. 


THI  BMPBROUB  A5D  THE  CHILD!.  393 

%p.  XI. — Comme  Haaffroi  et  Henri  earent  enrie  Bar  Valentin 

'  le  (H'and  amour  que  lui  portait  le  roi. 

»p.  XII. — Conune  Valentin  concjuit  Orson  son  fr^re  dans  la  fordt 

ip.  XI n.— Comme  apres  quo   Valentin   ent  conqnis  Orson,  il 

it  de  la  foret  pour  retoumcr  k  Orli^ans  vers  le  roi  P^pin. 

Rp.  XIV. — Comme  Hauffroi  et  Henri,  par  envie,  r^solurentde  tuer 

t*ntin  en  la  chambro  de  la  belle  Ksglantine. 

Rp.  XV. — Comme  le  due  de  Savaiy  envoja  vers  le  roi  P^pin  pour 

r  aide  contro  le  vert  chevalier  qui  voulait  avoir  sa  fille  Fezonne 

r  t^ponse. 

Rp.   XVI. — Comme   plnsienrs   chevaliers  vinrent   en  Aquitaine 

'  avoir  la  lielle  Fezonne. 

Rp.  XVII. — C4»mme  Hauffroi  et  Henn  firont  guetter  Valentin  et 

>n  sur  le  cherain  pour  le  faire  mounr. 

ip.  XVIII. — Comme  le   nii   Pepin   commanda   quo  devant  son 

in  fut  appareille  le  champ  pour  voir  Orson  et  Gngard  combattre 

mble. 

•  ••••• 

Rp.  LVL — Comme  Valentin  fit  la  penitence  qui  lui  avait  ^t^ 
«iee  piHir  expier  le  meurtre  de  son  pt»re. 

hp.  LVII. — Comme  le  roi  Ilugon  fit  demander  Escharmonde  pour 
nr,  et  mmme  il  trahit  Orson  et  le  vert  chevalier. 
Rp.  LVII  I. — Comme  IkOlisant  et  Escliamionde  surcnt  la  trahiiM>n 
ucM*  piitni'priiie  du  mi  Hu^n. 

Ap  LIX.  -  Comme  On«m  et  le  vert  chevalier  furent  diMi^Tvs  des 
*nn  dii  n»i  de  Syrie,  et  comme  le  rui  Ilugon,  jxmr  eviter  la  guerre, 
•limit  k  tax. 

H»   LX.  -Comme.  an  Ixml   tic  ik*pt  ann,  Valentin,  finit  kc»s  jours 
*fu  {loUifi  i\v  (*otiMtantitio|»lc*,  et  tVrivit  une  lettn»jiar  lm}U(*lle  il 


ft  IIITHIN  the  Greevan  land  some  time  did  dwell     a  Orwk 

'  Km|«m»r 

an  KfiiiM'n»nr,  whose  name  did  flar  excell  ;  «iH>rm«rrt«i 

111-  t«w,k«.*  to  wiffe  the  I^ikIv  irc'llefiiunt,  rniH^. 

tJ.r  only  iiiHtrr  to  the  Kinge  of  fTrnnre,  tmuut. 

wth  wh<»nn.»  he  liu<nl  in  ph^asure  A  delitfht  T»»n  Hmi 

'  h*i>rti7  till 
Mitill  /A«jt  flortune  came  to  worke  them  spight. 

II  t>  D 


394 


THE    EMPEBOUIt   AND   T0E   CHILDE. 


•  Inntf  al 
Bi«hop 


tried  to 

pnluoethe 

EniprciM, 


•ndonber 
refiual 


Accaiwil  her 
faliwly  to  the 
BmpiTror. 


The 

Emperor 
woaMn't 
lioar  h<^, 
but  banishod 
her  at  onoe ; 


and  phe 
Htart4<(l  with 
oiif  s<itiiru 

for  France. 


On  her  way 


ffor  wtthin  the  court  a  bishoppe  >  there  did  rest 

8     the  which  the  Empcronr  held  in  great  request; 
his  enaioas  hart  itt  ^wbb  soe  sore  enfflamed 
vpon  the  Empresse,  tJiat  gallant  dame, 
'  that  he  wold  penswade  her  many  '  a  wile 

12     her  husbands  marriage  bed  for  to  defile, 
but  shee  denyed  that  vnchast  request, 
as  to  her  honor  did  beaeeme  her  best ; 
wAtch  when  the  Bishopp  saw,  away  he  went 

16     vntou  the  Emperour  with  a  fell  intent, 
&  then  most  ffalselye  her  he  did  accuse, 
how  that  shee  wold  his  marrjcage  bed  abuse ; 
&  thervpon  he  swore  the  same  to  proue, 

20     w/i/ch  made  her  husbands  lone  in  wrath  to  pm 
then  the  Emperour  went  to  her  with  speed, 
fibr  to  accuse  her  of  this  shamefull  deede. 
and  when  shee  saw  how  shee  was  betrayd, 

24     her  inocency  shee  began  to  pleado ; 

but  then  her  husband  wold  not  hcare  her  spetk 
w7i/ch  made  her  hart  with  sorrow  like  to  break 
but  straight  the  Emperour  he  gaue  command 

28      that  shee  shold  be  bauished  ^  out  of  his  land, 
but  when  that  shee  ffrom  them  did  goe, 
before  them  all  shee  did  reccount  *  her  woe, 
&  said  that  shee  was  banished  wrongffullye ; 

82      &  soe  shee  went  w/th  sorrow  like  to  dye. 
now  is  shee  gone,  but  with  one  Squier  alone, 
vnto  her  brother  in  ffr^ce  to  make  her  Mone. 
And  being  come  within  the  realme  of  ffrance,  [r« 

36      O  there  beffell  a  very  Iteauy  chance  ! 

ffor  ^  as  shee  trauelled  through  a  wild  fforrest, 
the  labor  of  Childhood  did  her  sore  oppresse, 


*  An  Archpricst,  savs  the  Story  Book. 
—P. 

'  That  her  ho  wom/J  persuade  with. 
—P. 

'  with  many,  qu. — P. 


•  banish*d  l)o. — P. 

•  recount. — P. 

•  ali  follows  in  the  MS.,  mark-^ 
— F. 


THE   EMPEBOUB  AND   THE   CHILDE. 


395 


&  more  &  more  her  paines  increased  still 

40      that  shee  was  fibrced  to  rest  against  her  will, 
now  att  the  lenght  her  trauell  came  to  end, 
ffor  the  hord  2  children  did  her  send, 
the  w^ich  were  fiaire  &  proper  boyes  indeed, 

44      w^ich  made  her  hart  with  loj  for  to  exceedo. 
but  now  behold  how  flfortune  gan  to  Lower,* 
&  tamed  her  loy  to  greefe  within  an  hower ! 
ffor  why,  shee  saw  an  vgly  beare  as  then, 

IS      the  w^ich  was  come  fibrthe  of  some  lothesome  den; 
&  when  the  beare  did  see  her  in  that  place, 
he  made  towards  her  with  an  Egar  pace, 
&  ffrom  her  tooke  one  of  her  children  small, 

S2      a  sight  to  greene  the  mothers  hart  with-all. 
but  when  shee  saw  her  child  soe  borne  away, 
shee  Laid  the  other  downe,  &  did  not  stay, 
&  ffoUowed  itt  as  ffast  as  euer  shee  might ; 

»6      bat  all  in  vaine  !  of  itt  shee  lost  the  sight, 
bat  soe  itt  chanced,  att  that  verry  tyde 
the  King  of  £&ance  did  there  a  banting  ryde  ; 
<&  in  the  fforrest  as  he  rode  yp  and  downe, 

;o      the  other  child  he  fiband  vpon  the  groand. 
&  when  he  saw  the  child  to  be  soe  faire, 
to  take  itt  yp  he  bade  his  men  take  care, 
&  keepe  itt  well  as  tho  itt  were  his  owne, 

>4      vntill  the  ffather  of  the  child  where  ^  knowne. 
the  Empresse  retamed  there  backe  againe, 
when  as  shee  saw  the  beare  within  his  den  ; 
bat  when  shee  saw  her  other  sonne  was  lost, 

58     her  hart  with  sorrow  then  was  like  to  barst. 
then  downe  shee  sate  her  with  a  heaay  hart, 
&  wishes  •  death  to  ease  her  of  her  smart ; 
shee  wrong  her  hands  with  many  a  sigh  fall  deepe 

72     that  wold  haae  made  a  fl3yntye  hart  to  weepe. 


■he  waa 
taken  in 
labour » 


and  bore 
two  boys. 


A  bear 


carried  off 
one  of  them. 


She  laid  the 
other  down, 
and  ran 
after  the 
lost  one, 
bat  coaldn't 
find  it. 

The  King  of 
France  finds 
the  boy  laid 
down, 


and  has  him 
carried  off. 


Tho  Empress 
comes  back 
for  him, 

bnt  finds  him 
gone. 

Her  heart 

nearly 

breaks. 


»  louP— P. 


*  were.— P. 
D  D  2 


•  wish'd  for.— P. 


396 


THE  EMPEBOUR   AND   THE  CHILDE. 


Ihf  i»lai'o, 


anri  prwM  to 
a  ciiotk* 
fur  >ii.-Ip. 


Dnt  a  plant 
livcH  tlivrc 


anil  pntn  licr 
in  priwH, 


bnt  driT^ii't 
Lurt  IiiT. 


Tlip  lioy  tlio 
liiir  t<Mik 
gru\i4  ti]) 


n  hiifTfr  wild 
mail. 


wTi..  \\\U  nil 
tliut  ]i:i-'i'  iiy 
hin  (li-ll. 


TIh-  otlUT 
Iffi^  in 
(-Iiri>t4  liiil 
Vali'iif  iiK*, 


1^  knl'^Mitc-«l, 
and  i-i 
vuIUiiit. 

PfMir  irion 
ciiiii])1:iin  of 
th<;  WJM 
Man. 


then  shee  departed  from  that  woefnll  place, 

&  fforth  of  ffranco  slice  went  away  apace ; 

ffor  why,  as  yett  shee  wold  not  there  be  knowen 

7G     Yiitill  some  newes  of  her  young  sonnes  were  shone, 
but  shee  beheld  a  Castle  fiaire  &  stronge, — * 
slice  had  not  tranelled  ffrom  that  place  not  Lon?,— 
wheratt  shee  knocket,  some  snccour  for  to  find. 

80     but  itt  fiell  out  contrary  to  her  mind ; 

ffor  why,  with-in  that  castle  dwelt  as  then 

a  monstrous  gyant,  ffearcd  of  all  men, 

who  tooke  this  Ladyo  into  his  prison  strong, 

84     &  there  he  kept  her  fiast  in  prison  long, 
but  when  he  saw  her  lookes  to  be  soe  sadd, 
&  liauing  knowen  what  sorrowcs  she  had  had, 
he  ke])t  her  close,  bat  he  hurt  her  not ; 

88     &  HOC  shee  lined  in  prison  long,  god  wotte. 
the  child  the  which  the  beare  had  borne  awnv, 
amongst  her  younge  ones  was  brought  vp  alway, 
&  soe  brought  yp  vntill  att  length  as  then 

92     he  there  became  a  monstrous  huge  wild  man, 
&  [djaylye  ranged  about  the  fibrrest  wilde, 
&  did  destroy  man,  woman,  beast  and  child, 
&  all  things  else  which  by  his  den  did  passe, 

9C     which  to  the  country  grrcat  annoyance  was. 
the  other  child  which  they  King  '  had  ffound,^ 
ho  christened  was,  &  valentine  was  his  name ; 
&  when  he  grew  to  bo  of  ripe  yeeres, 
100     he  was  beloued  both  of  K.ing  and  peeres; 
ill  ffeates  off  armes  he  did  himsclfe  advance, 
///f/t  none  like  him  there  cold  be  fibnd  in  fTrance ; 
&  Wot  thai  same,  the  K/n</  did  dub  him  Knight; 
104     he  allwaies  was  soe  vallyant  in  his  fight. 
then  to  the  court  did  many  pore  men  come 
to  show  what  hurt  the  wild  man  there  had  dooe ; 


'  nliown.     V. 

*  Tin*  o  ;nnl  m  arr  Hqucezed  together 
in  the  MS.-  V. 


'  the  wAich  the  Etifg.— P. 
*  tone;  qu. — ^P. 


THE    EMFEROUR  iND  THE   CHILDE. 


397 


but  when  the  King  did  heare  the  moane  they  made/ 
08     he  sent  fforth  men  the  monster  to  innade  ; 

but  all  in  vaine  ;  flfor  why,  hee  cnisht  them  soe 

that  none  of  them  wtth-in  his  reach  dnrst  goe. 

Then  valentine  vnto  the  Kin^  did  sue  [i»g«  8i6] 

12     that  he  might  goe  the  Monster  to  subdue. 

then  fforthe  he  went  the  Monster  fibr  to  see, 

whom  he  saw  come  bearing  a  younge  oke  tree ; 

&  when  the  wild  man  of  him  had  a  sight, 
16     he  went  vnto  him  &  cast  him  downe  right. 

&  when  he  saw  his  strenght  cold  not  prevaile, 

he  praid  to  god  his  purpose  might  not  ffayle  ; 

then  a  poinard  presently  he  drew  out, 
20     &  peirct  his  side,  wherwith  the  blood  gusht  out. 

but  when  the  wild  man  did  behold  his  blood, 

he  ^  quicklye  brought  him  flfrom  his  ffuryous  mood ; 

then  firom  the  flTorrest  both  together  went 
24     towards  the  Emperour,*  &  with  ffull  intent 

of  [him]  desired  leaue  by  sea  to  sayle 

into  an  He  that  Lyeth  in  Portingall, 

wheras  th6  hard  *  with-in  a  Castle  was 
28     a  Ladye  ffaire  that  kept  a  head  of  brasse, 

the  which  cold  tell  of  any  questyon  asket. 

&  thither  came  braue  valentine  att  Last ; 

&  when  thut  they  to  *  the  castle  came, 
52     they  thought  fibr  to  haue  entered  the  same  ; 

but  itt  ffell  out  not  vnto  their  mind, 

because  the  porters  there  were  much  vnkind ; 

fibr  why,  th6  flfound  2  gyants  att  the  gate, 
36     with  [w]home  ^  they  ffought  or  they  cold  in  theratt. 

then  went  they  vpp  wheras  they  head  did  stand  ; 

&  by  itt  sate  the  bewtyous  Claramande, 


The  King 
■ends  men  to 
km  him, 

bnt  he  kills 
them* 


Valentine 
goes  to 
subdue  him ; 


the  Wild 
Man  knocks 
him  down 
with  an  oak. 


bnt  gets 
stabbed  in 
zetum. 


Thenthej 
make  it  up, 
and  ask  the 
Empearor 
leave  to  go 
to  an 
island  in 
Portingidl, 


to  consult  a 
brass  head. 


They  go 
there, 


fight  two 
giants  to 
get  in. 


see  the  head 
and  fair 
Claramande, 


The  m  has  one  stroke  too  many  in 

MS.— F. 

It.— P. 

King  of  Fraunce,  qu. — P. 


«  heard.— P. 
»  unto.— P. 
•  whom. — P. 


398 


THE  EHPEROUR   AND   TUB  GHILDE. 


\ 


who  AnkR 

wlio-K>  win 
Vain  I  tine  ij<. 
Olid  will) 
th<f  Wild 
Man  K 
Thti  )\otu\ 

•*  You  nro 
brothon, 
ftiiiH  of  tiu; 
(invk 
EmiKsror, 


and  ynnr 
nifitfior  iii  in 
Kiiii? 

j»riK4in. 
Cut  tho 
Htriii;;  uiiili  r 
UrKin'm 
touKiK*.  niul 
he'll  ^I)CJlk." 


ThU  la  donr 

Vnl»'ntinc 
Diiirriis 
C'l.ini- 
nmiiik' ; 


and  tli<' 

Wi>  hOUii 


kill 

Firr:ii:u*, 
mill  fii.v 
tlnir 
niuthcr. 


Th"U  tlioy 
nil  Ko  to 
(Jntt.v, 


whom,  when  the  noble  valentine  did  sco, 
140    he  swore  his  hart  ffor  euer  there  shold  bee. 

then  did  slice  spcake  vnto  tho  head  of  brassc, 

&  bade  itt  tell  whose  sonno  valentine  was, 

&  whom  the  wild  man  there  shold  bee. 
144     to  whom  the  head  gane  answer  presentlje : 

"  flirst  1x5  it  knowen,  he  is  thy  brother  deere, 

&  you  are  both  sonnes  to  tho  GFreoyan  peore  ; 

&  your  mother  wrongfihllye  banished  was, 
148     &  yon  were  botli  borne  in  a  wild  fibrrest ; 

&  that  *  by  a  beare  vrsin  was  nnrst  vpp, 

&  valentine  by  '  his  vnckles  court ; 

&  your  mother  lyeth  in  prison  stronge 
15 -J     w/tli  Khij  ficragns,'  where  shee  hath  beene  long. 

alsoc  I  Bay,  looke  vnder  vrsines  tonnge  ; 

there  shall  yon  (find  a  string  both  bigg  &  stronge ; 

cut  that  in  tow,  &  then  his  speech  shall  breake; 
156     &  this  is  all ;  &1  noe  more  can  speake." 

then  vrsin  to  his  speeche  restored  was  bee, 

&  valentine  had  Claremonde  soe  ffrce. 

Roe  al  together  *  on  their  lonmey  went 
IGO     towards  their  mother  being  in  prison  pent ; 

&  soe  they  came  vnto  the  place  att  Last 

wheras  their  mother  was  in  prison  ffast ; 

&  him  they  slew  that  did  their  mother  keepe, 
\CA     &  soe  they  brought  her  out  of  prison  deepe. 

&  when  that  they  were  al  together  come, 

vnto  their  mother  they  then  made  them  knownc ; 

w7//ch  when  shee  saw  her  owne  sonnes  sett  her  ffrce, 
1 08     no  ioye  to  her  there  might  compared  bee. 

then  prcsentlye  they  purpose  to  take  read,* 

into  the  Land  of  gp:tH)ce  to  hye  With  speed. 

&  when  that  they  had  many  a  storme  ore  past, 
172     they  did  arriue  w/th-in  that  Land  att  last ; 


>    tlllTO.--I*. 


in. 


v. 


*  Tliid   is   tlic   muuc   of    one   of  tlio 


Charlemagne  heroes. — F. 

'  MS.  altogHher,  and  in  I.  165.— F. 
*  couuscL — P. 


THE  BMPBROUR  AND   THE   CHILDE. 


399 


then  on  their  loumey  towards  they  court  they  went, 

&  to  the  Emperour  a  messenger  they  sent, 

to  tell  him  ffireinds  of  his  were  comen  vpon  land, 

^6     &  did  intreat  some  fiayor  att  his  hand. 

when  the  Emperour  was  come  vnto  them  there, 
<&  knew  the  woman  to  be  his  wifib  most  deere, 
&  that  the  other  2  were  his  owne  deare  sonnes, 

(0    he  then  bewailed  their  happ  with  bitter  moanes, 
ffirst  thai  because  his  wiffe  was  wronge  exilde, 
&,  ffor  the  greeffe  when  as  shee  traueled  with  child. 
&  soe  att  lenght,  in  spight  of  ffortunes  happ, 

\A     they  lined  in  ioy,  &,  ffeared  noe  after  clappe. 

ffins. 


to  the  Court. 


Whentho 
Emperor 
finds  hie 
wife 
•ndaons, 

hebewailB 

thdrpaet 

saflerlxigBS 


and  they 
liye  happily 
tbomfter. 


400 


dittingt :  late :  ^ 

This  piece  declares  that  women  will  have  their  own  mj, 
further,  that  that  way  will  frequently  be  wanton.    It  attempts  1 
reconcile  husbands  to  the  loss  of  their  supremacy,  and  tkoel 
other  consequent  troubles.  The  argument  is  not  always  thoroo^] 
satisfactory ;  as,  when  we  are  taught  that  because  Paris  of  Tnf 
got  into  such  trouble  for  running  away  with  another  man's  ^ 
therefore  we  cannot  expect  to  enjoy  any  immimity  from  trouBfi 
in  respect  of  our  own  wives.     We  cannot,  if  we  would,  sajsfc^ 
poem,  exercise  a  sufficiently  sharp  surveillance  over  them,  b 
ail  ranks  of  life  they  **  have  their  own  will ; "  beggars'  wiv«,  Jfli 
the  wives  of  better  men,  all  elude  and  mock  their  hosbaob 
The  only  place  where  this  is  not  the  rule  is  Rome,  and  it  is  sot 
so  there  simply  because  a  woman-pope  would  not  let  it  be  w 
Thus  woman's  will  reigns  supreme  everywhere. 

But  perhaps  the  only  interest  this  sorry  composition  possease! 
is  its  illustrating  Hudibraa  (Part  I.  canto  ii.  w.  545-552):— 

Some  cried  the  Covenant,  instead 
Of  pudding-pies  and  ginger-bread ; 
And  some  or  brooms,  old  boots,  and  shoes, 
Batctd  out  to  purge  the  Commons*  House ; 
Instead  of  kitchen-stuff,  some  cry 
A  Gospel-preaching  Ministry ; 
And  some  for  old  suits,  coats,  or  cloak. 
No  surplices,  nor  Service-book : — 

and  FalstaflPs  remark  on  the  worthy  Justice  Shallow,  that  *' 
came  ever  in  the  rearward  of  the  fashion,  and  sung  those  tum 
to  the  overscutched  huswives  that  he  heard  the  camien  whUil 
and  sware  they  were  his   fancies   or   his  good-nights."    Man 

'  A  Satire  on  the  Women. — ^P. 


SITTINQE  LATE. 


401 


other  references  to  the  sibilant  powers  of  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  century  carmen  are  given  by  Mr.  Chappell,  in  his 
Popular  Music  of  Olden  TimCy  a  propos  of  the  air  called  "  The 
Carmen's  Whistle." 


8 


12 


16 


20 


24 


28 


[page  817] 


SlTTINGE  :  late,  my  selfe  alone, 

to  heare  the  birds  sweete  harmonye, 
one  sighed  sore  with  many  a  grone, 

"  my  wiffe  will  still  my  jxiaster  bee !  " 
his  sifirfhles  ecchpsed  bricrht  Phebus  beames, 

his  U  did  ble  like Itna  hill, 
his  teares  Uke  Nilus  fflowing  streames,^ 

his  cryes  did  peirce  the  Eccho  shrill. 
With  that  I  drew  my  eare  aside 

to  heare  him  thus  complaine  of  ill ; 
his  greefe  &  mind  were  both  a-hke, 

that  ginnye  '  his  flfilly  wold  haue  her  owne  will. 

The  King  of  Sirya  mad  a  law, 

thai  eaery  '  man  wtth-in  his  land, 
that  he  shold  lordlye  keepe  in  awe 

his  wiffe,  &  those  iJiat  did  wtth-stand. 
w^ich  acte  is  cleane  gone  out  of  mind 

of  aU  degrees,  <fc  will  be  still ; 
pore  silly  husbands  are  soe  kind, 

they  let  their  wiues  haue  their  owne  will. 

When  Princely  Paris,  pride  of  Troye, 

had  stolen  away  Ki'n^  Menelaus  wiffe, 
10  yeeres  of  warr  was  all  \^a  loy, 

&  afterwards  bereaued  of  liffe. 
by  this  wee  see  that  'KingB  are  tyed, 

as  well  as  subiects,  to  much  ill ;  • 
why  shold  wee  poore  men  thinke  itt  scome 

to  let  our  wiues  haue  their  owne  will  ? 


Iheaid  a 
man 

bewailing 
that  his 
wife  would 
be  his 
master; 


be  wept,  and 
cried  shrilly. 


and  said  his 
fiUy  would 
hare  her 
will. 


Men  won't 
keep  the 
King  of 
Syria's  law, 
that  men 
shall  keep 
their  wives 
in  Older. 


Pari5got 


ten  years 
war  and  his 
death  for 
stealing  his 
wife. 

If  then  kings 
get  into 
trouble,. 


»  streaiu  in  the  MS.— F.  *  MS.  may  he  grimi/e.—F.  *  fo^  every.— P. 


402 


SITHNQE   LATE. 


nml  Oods  do 
HU  tou. 


don't  1ft  11.4 
miiid  alx>Dt 
IcttinflT  our 
wives  liavo 
thi'ir  own 
way. 


Even 
beggar- 
women 
nvX  their 
hiirtlmnili* 
into  t$craiie8 ; 


All  thai  lookcs  blacke,  diggs  not  ffor  coles ; 
how  sbold  onr  clijmncjs  thon  be  swept  ? 
&  be  that  tbinkcs  to  lampe  ore  Powles,* 
32        may  once  a  jeare  bo  well  out  leapte ; 
ffor  vulcan  wore  a  bead  of  borne  ' 
wlien  least  misprision  was  of  ill. 
Ictt  no  man  lining  tbinke  itt  scome 
30        to  let  bis  wiffe  bane  ber  owne  will ! 

Bnt  sboc  thai  Hues  hy  nille  '  &  tape, 
&  w/tb  ber  bagge  &  Incett  *  beggs, 
oil  makes  ber  husband  many  a  scape  ^ 
40        although  slice  goes  in  simple  raggs ; 
ffor  hungry  doggs  wiU  alwayes  range, 

&  ynsauory  meate  will  staunch  tbeir  ffill ; 
&  they  thai  take  delight  in  change 
44         willy  Nolens  Volens,  bane  tbeir  owne  will, 


iind  if  a  uiai* 
^'(x•-  uut, 


Iii-i  ]>liicc 
iiiiiHt  be 
tuiipliu*]. 


(But  tlii.'r9 
un*  no 
cnckulils  in 
Uuuie.) 


But  he  thai  goes  firom  dore  to  dore, 

&  crycs  "  old  buskins  Sot  new  broomc  ; " 
althoe  his  lining  be  but  poore, 
48         another  must  supply  bis  roome. 

''  old  bootes  &  buskins  ffor  new  broomc  ! 

come  buy,  ffaire  maids,  &  take  your  fi&ll ! 
there  are  no  Cucholds  made  att  Boomo ; 
52         Pope  lone  bath  sett  itt  downe  by  will." 


•  Powles,  i.e.  St.  Paul's.— P. 

-  Not*'  -  in  Brands  Popular  Antiqui- 
(it:8y  cd.  1841,  vol.  ii.  p.  126,  col.  1,  sayH, 
"  In  •  Paradoxical  Assertions  and  Philo- 
sophical Problems,  by  11.  IT.  8v<^  Lond. 
1U6),  p.  6,  'Why  Cuckolds  arc  said  to 
wear  Honia?'  wo  read:  *1h  not  this 
monster  said  to  wear  tho  Horns  because 
other  Men  with  their  two  forefingers 
jM)int  and  //lo^e  Horns  at  him  ?'  "  "Cuck- 
vld.  Cuckolled,  treated  in  thn  way  that 


''  the  cuckow  (Lat.  ciccu/tM)  serres  othtr 
birds,  vis.  by  laying  an  egg  in  tht*ir 
nest."    Wedgwood. — F. 

'  MS.  iuUe,  Irat  as  the  dot  orer  tlu  i 
is  yeiy  often  misplaced  in  the  HS.  and 
nill  moans  needle^  I  print  ntiffo. — F. 

*  perhaps  budget. — ^P.  Fr.  luoct  or 
luchet  is  a  spade. — ^F. 

*  1.  A  misdcmeftnour  ...  3.  A  trick, 
shift,  or  evasion.    HalliwelL — ^F. 


mrUfOB  LATB.  403 

Tho  CarmAii  whistles  yp  &  downo  ; 

another  cryes  *'  will  yoa  boj  any  blacko '  ?  " 
tho  cantiyman  is  held  a  clowne, 
S6         when  better  men  hane  greater  lackc. 

thus  whiles  they  cards  are  shuffled  about,  it'i  ««u 

/  ^  ihAtaU 

tho  knane  will  in  tho  docko  *  lye  still ;  virm* 

A  if  all  sccrutts  were  found  out,  tH^ 

c-j        I  doubt  a  number  wold  want  their  will. 

(Bns. 


*  ?  Fr.  •"•r,  bUdLiDf ,  or  pierre  nmrt^      or  moaming.  ~F. 
BUrk   (>Ak«r.  ur  \Jt^  bUcko  markiiig-  *  A  psck  of  osnk.    llmlliwelL— F. 

•taci<>. — CoCgrmrr.      It  cmii*t  iiMAa  looi 


404 


[In  nino  Farts. — ^P.] 

Perct  thought  SO  well  of  the  plot  of  this  Romance  that  he  • 
it  for  analysis  in  his  Reliquea  (v.  iii.  p.  zii.~zv].  ed.  1 
Speaking  of  "  these  old  poetical  Legends,"  he  says,  "  it  wi 
proper  to  give  at  least  one  specimen  of  their  skill  [that  i 
skill  of  the  writers  of  them],  in  distributing  and  conducting 
fable,  by  which  it  will  be  seen  that  nature  and  common  8ens< 
supplied  in  these  old  simple  bards  the  want  of  critical  art 
taught  them  some  of  the  most  essential  rules  of  Epic  Poeti 
shall  select  the  Bomance  of  Libius  Disconius,  as  being  c 
those  mentioned  by  Chaucer,  and  either  shorter  or  more  ii 
gible  than  the  others  he  has  quoted.'  If  an  Epic  Poem  m 
defined,  *  ^  A  fable  related  by  a  poet,  to  excite  admiratioi 
inspire  virtue,  by  representing  the  action  of  some  one  1 
favoured  by  heaven,  who  executes  a  great  design,  spite  of  a 
obstacles  that  oppose  him  : '  I  know  not  why  we  should  wit 
the  name  of  Epic  Poem  from  the  piece  which  I  am  alx 
analyse." 


*  This  Piece  may  be  considered  pep- 
hnps  as  one  of  the  first  rude  Attempts 
towards  tlie  Epic  or  Nftrrative  Poem  in 
Europe  siuco  the  Koman  Times.  [See  v. 
i.  p.  417,  1.  4.]      Nor   is    it  deffective 

iso]  in  the  most  essential  Parts  of  Epic 
Vtry.  The  Hero  is  one.  The  great 
action  to  w^jch  everything  tends  is  one: 
there  is  little  interruption  of  episode ; 
&  it  [l)]egin8  nearer  the  [E]vout  than 
most  of  that  ago. — P. 

This  a]>]H'ars  to  bo  more  ancient 
than  the  Time  of  Chauc^.  See  The 
Rhyme   of    Sir  Thopas  quoted  below, 


St  22*  .—P. 

N.B.  The  Bhjme  of  Sir  Thopa 
to  be  intended  in  Imitatioii  of ' 
Piece.  N3.  This  is  a  timnslati 
the  French.  Vid.  p.  827.  st.  15 
p.  441, 1.  706  here].— P 
*  Men  spcken  of  Itonunmoes  of  ] 
Of  Home-Chikl  and  Ip^ 

OfBeTisandSirGhD^, 

Of  Sir  Libeaux  and  Blandamo 

But  Sir  Thqpaa  bereth  the  fkM 

Of  riaU  df erallrie.— JM.  iii. 

•  Vide    "Disconn    snr    la 

Epiqne,"  preflzed  to  TksJmAQVt, 


Tba  BUbop  Uien  giteifttkrtch  i>f  each  oftliPDJoe  Ports  of  tbe 

And  wiiwb  up  with,  "  Such  in  the  ta,h\e  uf  tliw  uid<mt 

wLich  Um  rmder  may  oImctvv,  u  aa  regul&r  ia  itj  contlact 

aa  uir  of  thr  finest  pocmi  of  daMictl  antiquity.     If  the  cxemtiuo, 

particiilATtyaa  to  tbedictinn  aoil  aenlimtniU,  were  but  Mfual  totbe 

jplao,  U  wuuli]  bo  a  capita)  pHrfortnaQCe ;  but  thU  ia  >uch  tm 

'  'it  he  etpeded  ionideaodignonnttiineB,  and  ill  a  larbaruna 

h^liibed  laagnags.'*     Puor  times !  Wliy  hadn't  j'ou  n  huifaop 

f||I>  *  blacking-bnuh  to  mak«  joo  ahiiif  ? 

The  aabj«ct  of  the  wtory  ia  one  that,  told  ia  the  laDgoairB  and 
blbMl  with  tb«  f«eItDgB  of  each  inicc«Mtv«  age,  can  nerar  fiul  to 
tat  that  a({e  at  lewt, — th«  adnrnturoi  of  a  jroun)*  iinkofiwu 
on  hia  dai^eroaa  road  frotn  poverty  (o  lucecaa  in  Ufa,  from 
alaaa  obacurity  to  rank  and  fame,  from  the  coaaciowmeaa  of 
V  adatinf;  only  in  the  youth'*  own  brain,  to  the  full  mnni- 
tloaof  that  powpT,  in  tbo  sight  and  with  the  applaoae  of  all 
DoU«n,  who  rejoice  to  aee  it  rcceite  iU  fittiuft  reward. 
In  tb«  pnwQt  iDat«i»oe,  Lybiua  cunM*  frutn  hia  motlwr'i  apron- 
^Dot  knowing  hb  fiUber  ( h<^  ia  (iawain'ahaatard ')  to  Artbur'a 
L  lie  aaka  for  knlghtboud,  and  the  fint  adventurv  that  oomea 
He  gviR  both ;  and  bit  taak  i*  U>  frve  the  Lady  of  Sinadowne 
I  ptMoo.  Though  acnriMd  fiir  hi*  youth  Ity  her  mtwengem, 
BBqMnv  OQ*  ■f^r  aiifrih<*r,  thirteen  fomiidablti  oppuDtnta, 
h«ft  tha  firtt  nine  are  Sir  William  de  U  Braundi,  bin  thrw 
two  giaola.  Sir  Gefferoo,  Hir  Oti-a  d«  I.iale,  and  tho  Oiaot 
A  mora  inaidinua  foe  ia  brhiod,  the  iiQm.f«st  of  the 
lala,  wbinn  our  hero  haa  rracu«d  from  Maagya.  For  a 
•be  keepa  him  from  fulfilUog  hia  taak ;  biit  at  hut  b*  hnaaka 


V  ID  »  piU-  miil*<4  Ma  tm  nMn.  lb*  Ufod  il 

mU*  hmi  n^mni  Am  tba  Mhm  w<«lil  to- 

i«M«»fwbM,(baMfdr«WM»-  ariMMr  wft  M  mw^M  tUl  il  Pmrhmt 

M  M  *wl  Ml* ; )  BM  that  if  •  to*  MUial  tuMm.     IW**  wv  #>wiM 

h  wl«lik*MMa  UtMUatiHtM*  fci^  la  aUitalMW. 


•MM        UtMU-tiHtMl 

L  b*»-      -T.  Wri^ 


\ 


406  UBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


away  from  her,  and  goes  to  Sinadowne.  There  he  conquers  one 
knight,  Sir  Lanibers,  and  then  two  necromancers  who  have  | 
turned  the  Lady  of  Sinadowne  into  a  serpent.  The  Berpent 
kisses  him,  and  at  the  kiss  turns  into  a  lovely  princess,  who 
offers  him  herself  and  her  lands.  He  accepts  both,  marries 
tlie  Lady,  and  carries  her  off  to  King  Arthur's  court. 

Tlie  English  Komance  was  first  printed  by  Kitson  from  the 
Cotton  MS.  Caligula  A.  ii.  This  text  refers  several  times  to  its 
original,  "  the  Frenssch  tale  "  (1.  2122,  Eitscm,  ii.  90;  L  222,  ti. 
10,  &c.).  On  this,  Bitson  remarked,  ^The  French  original  is 
unknown,"  ii.  253.  The  same  statement  continued  true  for 
many  a  year.  Like  the  original  of  Sir  Generidea  (which  I  edited 
from  Mr.  Tollemachc's  MS.  for  Mr.  Gibbs  as  his  gift^book  to 
the  Koxburghe  Club  in  18G5,  and  the  French  of  which  is  still  to 
seek),  the  original  of  Lyheaus  Discoiiua  could  not  be  found.  Bnt 
a  lucky  purchase  by  one  of  our  subscribers,  the  Due  d'Aumale, 
of  a  MS.  volume  of  French  poems,  and  a  luckier  placing  by  him 
of  it  in  the  hands  of  Professor  Hippeau  of  Caen  in  1855,  led 
to  the  discovery  of  the  long-hidden  French  Somance,  Li  BicuB 
Jksconneus,  and  also  the  name  of  its  writer,  Bsnalbde  Biauju, 
or, — as  M.  Hippeau  modernises  it, — Benauld  de  Beaujeu.  In 
1860  M.  Hippeau  published  the  poem  as  Le  £eZ /nixmnu,  dating 
its  writer  as  of  the  thirteenth  century.  It  is  not  certain  that  Se 
Biauju's  text  is  the  one  that  the  English  translators  or  adapteis 
worked  from ;  for  in  the  two  passages  above  referred  to,  where 
the  English  text  refers  to  the  French  tale  as  the  authority  for 
its  statements,  De  Biauju's  text  contains  no  such  statementsL 
But  that  is  not  conclusive,  for  we  know  that  our  English 
versifiers  were  seldom  translators  only:  like  our  modem  play- 
wrights, they  treated  their  French  (or  French-writing)  originals 
with  great  freedom,  cut  out  what  they  didn't  want,  altered  what 
they  didn't  like,  and  put  in  incidents  at  discretion.  As  one 
instance,   take   Bobert   of  Brunne's  treatment   of   \(llliani  of 


unts  Dtflcoinra. 


407 


VailiDglan'fl  Jinnvel  dta  Pechiei,  detstlM  to  my  prefiuv  to  th« 

'aitJij/itff  Syane.     I)«  Biauju*H  text  irKiy  h«ve  |{ivrn  ii>o  to 

imL'  Ictft  UlM  veraion  which  llie  Etifiluh  nilaplvn  hnDiUnl ;  but 

■re  Du  rwuoD  whj-  the  mrlj  French   text  whldi  &I.  Hlppran 

w  priutvd  nujr  not  have  been  itvtarn   our  early  mrti.     llie 

Motive  u  the  ume  in  txith  itodea,  mm]  tin*  chief  Jndtlents  are 

tbr  toune,  tbuu{{U  in  oue^the  way  in  which  the  Fairy  of  the 

Gulden  Iile,  ef  Lu  IhtitwiMUa  tu  i)/<i»m>  Mnin»,  n  rcpnwrnled, 

the  latter   part  of  the   itory  tul<) — they  ilifTcr  nuirkcdly. 

.imI  a*  in  this  part  of  the  French  po<-m  M.  llippenu  find*  the 

criffinkl  of  port  of  the  rtory  of  Tosso'b  Gervfalrmme  Libefala, 

t  n»y  be  a*  wt-ll  to  give  M.  Hippenira  alMlrairt,  remembering 

Ibat   the  Kngli«h   vi-raiiin  maltn  the  lady  a  mere  •arcercM  w)io 

detain*  Lyliiu*  twrire  nionth«   fn>m  ptirmilng  the  taNk  that  lie 

vMwed  to  nccompltsh,  and  then  appritn  Do  more  in  the  itory. 

ir  Frruch  tt^xt  ninkm  her  keep  liitu  "tily  n  day  tiefure  Ite  luw 

tbe  I^y  of  Sinadomie ;  but  after  he  luui  done  thu,  »m1 

bai  tilTerrd  limrif  «td  her  lantU  to  him,  De  BtHtiju  iulrodiMt* 

Fairy  affain — thr  ED){lioli  trxt  sapoj;  nothing  of  her— aod 

Lytiitu  halt  at  tlir  IjwIt  of  Siitndovoe'i  offer  thu«  : 

Tba  ofl^r  ia  lrai|itiB;t ;  Iw^  tJu'  law*  nr  rliivalry  am  opiviwd  In  hi* 

hi«  trotli  witbtnit  having  rmwived  the  «BtbtiriiBtion  of  King 

•  banxH  of  itie  /•uyo  Js  OalU»  «nive  al  tke  CiU 

and  rUjo**  alaa  onow  to  purify  by  thdr  piooa  oare- 

tlMiir  priwionii  the  plonw  over  wbkli  thn  infemal  aiiirtta 

ii  a   ^mI);  anl,  beliiro  all   her  hanmngv,  BUmiU  Btmtrit 

that  ahe  has  deridoil  lUt  taking  Oielaia  h  her  ■fmu*.     A 

ef  lord*  ffoca  to  him.  ud  tho  kni(rht  rtil)  uinrrr*  tn  ths 

faq«BBt  aJJwt d  to  lum,  tliat  be  can  i!"  :>  ilie 

at  KiDfT  Artfaar.     It  i«  ibe  kini;  wlui.  -n« 

biJpaf  one  of  hia  kat|^tji,ha*  tbe  rtffhi  (■  Sbo 

B  logo  toUeeoarl,  with  nil  her  l»r>-ii-,  •■>  omiii.  —n: 

'   TW  ifamm  pn^Hita  to  wt  oitl,  t»  tbe  iweet  aaticipatiiiB  thai  tlia 

I  k>iitlu  will  M.-anni|«iiy   hvr  ia  her  jtnuiwy.     Bnl   widely 

now  mure  U  M  fnaMan.     He  cannot  drive  tram 

■  Iwart  lb*  PMnUoetioa  of  the  beutifnl  &iry  of  tbe  71r  *rUr 


\ 


408  LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 

The  description  of  this  unoonqnei'able  passion  occnpios  a  large 
Rpaco  in  the  stor}'  of  our  trouvero.  Ho  finds  happy  expressions  to 
doscribo  those  torments  of  love  which  ho  appears,  from  the  frequent 
reforonco  ho  makes  to  liimself,  to  know  only  too  well.  Readers  will 
be  astonished  to  see  with  what  pliancy  the  language  of  the  thirteenth 
C(Mitnr}'  lent  itself  to  the  developement  of  the  most  delicate  shades  of 
feeh'ng.  Gijj^lain  knows  not  at  what  point  to  stop.  He  dares  not 
retui-n  to  the  Jlc  iVOr,  which  he  left  so  abruptly  ;  he  cannot,  on  the 
other  liand,  drive  away  the  too  seductive  image  which  besieges  him 
nifjfht  and  day.  The  adN-ice  of  Robert,  bis  faithful  squire,  decides 
him  on  letting  the  daughter  of  the  king  of  Galles  set  oat  alone.  She 
paHs  from  hijn  with  tlie  sadness  of  resignation,  and  be  sets  out  for 
the  Ilr  (V<)i'.  Hut  there  his  j)eri>lexities  begin  again.  Shall  he  go  aud 
present  himself  to  tho  woman  whose  love  ho  luis  seemed  to  disdain? 
He  weeps,  he  laments,  he  is  grievously  distressed.  Bat  happily 
Kobei't  is  always  at  his  side  :  he  has  much  more  confidence  than  his 
inastcr  in  tho  kindly  feelings  of  the  fairy.  She  wanted  to  keep  him, 
she  was  angry  at  his  going,  she  will  then  see  him  again  with  joy. 

At  length  tlie  dreaded  int<?r\'iew  takes  place.  Having  reached  the 
magnilicent  fruit-garden  (rcrtjcr),  which  leads  to  the  jMilace  of  the 
J  If.  iVOi'y  a  delightful  garden  which  contains  all  of  most  perfect  that 
God  has  civated  upon  earth,  Giglain  and  his  companion  perceive  the 
Fairy  of  the  White  Hands  (/<r  anx  blanches  wa/*w),  and  the  former 
at  once  directs  his  steps  towards  her.  The  fairy  receives  him  with 
an  appearance  of  anger,  which  soon  vanishes  under  the  tender  pro- 
testatioiLs  of  love  with  which  Giglain  accompanies  the  explanations 
tliat  he  gives  her.  She  asks  nothing  better  tlian  to  forgive  him,  and 
hIic  conducts  the  hay)py  kniglit  into  her  castle. 

If  tho  passiim  of  Gighiin  wius  violent  when  he  was  far  from  the 
Faiiy  of  the  Gohlen  Isle,  how  can  ho  resist  it  when  he  finds  himself 
in  the  middle  of  her  palace,  where  all  the  attendants,  keeping  discreetly 
at  a  distance,  soon  leave  him  alone  with  her  ? 

We  are,  you  will  perceive,  in  the  midst  of  the  palace  of  Armida. 
The  situation  of  our  knight  in  tins  cliarming  abode,  recalls,  in  fiict, 
quite  naturally,  tliat  which  made  Rinaldo  forget,  in  the  bosom  of  the 
delights  in  wliich  an  enchantress  held  him,  his  most  sacred  duties 
a  lid  the  glory  of  ('oml>at.  How,  and  by  means  of  wliat  changes,  have 
the  adventures  of  Giglain  in  the  castle  of  the  Golden  Isle  become  one 
uf  the  most  interesting  episodes  of  the  Gcmsaliimme  lAherata  ?  *     It  is 


*  On  La  Dame  iTAmore  of  tlio  Cotton      observes,  v.  ii.  p.  263,  *•  This  lady 
ttxt  (iind  oun*,  y.  470,  L  IdOS),  liitson      a  atroug  resemblance  to  tJw  m 


bean 
no  I«« 


ft  ■twly  mkitii  wnuM  rvquirv  lung  unfold 
wlud)  w*  nwjr  tr;  rlMwbvrv  whm  we  have  to  ocrap;  imrmlwii  with 
Uw  t(*iulatiMU  or  imitatioiut  of  which  the  puenm  of  our  ttvun'riM 
kara  bevD  lh»  o1))k;c  lunonK  tlio  diffrrtrtit  notiooa  of  Kumjx'. 

Ilowerar  Ihat  in»j-  be,  wo  ■ludl  only  follow  with  reoervc  the  Pntui-h 
I  povi  in  thia  pwl  uf  hi*  rttiry,  where  hn  inihilfrnt  n  little  tno  niui-li,  liko 
1  of  th»  mxat  ifwch.  in  lli»  dL-M-riptivc  utyle.  The  faifj 
I  «(Hikl  not  hare  biea  ■  wdbuui  if,  niftwithatmuliDg  hor  tcndcmmot  fiir 
Elf  B*t  imeammu,  tbs  had  cointil(.'U>If  forKotten  tlie  insult  diniu  (41  her 
FafaanM^  knrvror  bonoimhUi  nii((ht  hnrii  tiiti  the  caniM  whirh  took 
'  •  Int  tin*  fiwn  tlw  GoU«n  ble.  Hha  fur)pvefl  him,  but  uuly 
[  ivnagod  hmwJf  BUghtif.  Il  i*  not  in  tain  that  ho 
1  palace.  During  tho  ntgbt  be  ia  twin-  a  (irtiy 
Htt  wakva  and  atarta  up:  ho  uvniih  t«  Imi 
^M  Ua  boail  tbo  wbolo  nmf  of  tha  hall ;  ho  call*  (u  hiw  help 
utta  of  llu)  tnirj.  Thej  run  to  hini  and  find  him 
{  with  hla  inUow,  whieh  w  nrer  hi*  ]i««d.  The  wvond  timei, 
■  oat  of  bod  and  annvni  at  a  tomnt,  which  lui  nomv  an  a 
aok ;  terror  Mtiea  him ;  he  thinlcH  that  th«  tjuirorint*  wuvoa 
>  in  I  bo  clinga  to  tbo  plank  with  aU  hia  might,  and  then 
wboW  boBBe  to  hia  bdpt    Tbojr  find  fain  ifnuping  with  hn 

0  luada  ■  ■pamnr-hawk'a  perch. 

TIm  l^j  of  Iha  Q«ild«i  lata  Ihmks  htm  aolBowntlf  pumhed.  Wa 
•  lean  nor  aathor  a  MOond  tima  to  add,  to  fail  glory,  that  wo 
~  I  in  Ua  poan  tha  nuana  amplojrad  bj  tha  Italian  pont  to 
h  hmo  Ann  Uto  aidaetiuaa  of  Aimitla. 
I  Iha  daaiHitar  of  the  kiaff  of  OallM  ^oorntjring  but  jayUmij 
I  Kit^  Arthnr'i  omirt.  Hho  thn«  loperiMnetia  a  rM-rptMin 
L  wnrtb/  of  brr ;  all  tho  kuif^bta  •barn  Ikcr  grief  when  aha  infimns  them 

1  Iha  warrior  to  whom  ahe  owo«  Imtt  dclinraoFe,  haa  not  accoo- 
■Jkv.BBd  that  aha  known  not  whithor  bo  han  dinctad  hiattapa. 
~    r  kmnn  wall  h>tw  In  bring  hM;k  to  htm  Iha  nuvt  iUnntriiNia 

>  of  tha   Roand  Talilo.     Ha  Itaa  a  gnad  tonraaoteiil 

1  all  OTor  tba  coont*;.    On*  day  two  plajran  (j-mflntn) 

i  thaaunlrra  at  tha  caallo  of  tba  AildaB  lala,  and  poaetista 

I  to  i*  Bfi  /amnaw.     Tbqr  annoum  to  him  ibo  fimal  nf  anna 

I  by  Cinn  Artbnr.     At  tfaut  mrwa.  Oiglatn  hcaitaloa  not  an 

i  ka  fiirgata  hia  loro,  to  think  only  of  glory.     In  vain  doaa 

tkaa     Ua^wH*    Urrv   lb>       ■»!    Itiwifv   ia    iha  mmmmn   k   ^aaa 
.  «r  Baawr,  *wl  ihi  Alna*  of      rf-.aM  Vm  U 
i  hlh«f«ha«4M*laMUl7a«* 


I 


410  LIUIUS  DISCONIUS.  • 

the  beautiful  fairy  try  to  bold  liim  back.  She  knows  beforehand,  in 
her  double  quality  of  woman  and  fairy,  that  the  love  of  the  handsome 
knight  cannot  be  eternal .  She  has  had  to  prepare  herself  long  since 
to  lose  him.  I  like  better,  I  declare,  the  jealous  fury  of  Armida  than 
the  easy  resij^iiation  of  the  Fairy  of  the  White  Hands. 

At  break  of  day,  Giglain,  who  had  gone  to  bed  the  night  before  in 
the  palace  of  the  Golden  Isle,  wakes  and  finds  at  his  side  his  horse 
and  his  squii^e  Robert,  in  the  middle  of  a  dark  forest,  whither  the  all- 
lK)wer  of  the  fairy  had  transported  him.  Though  he  is  a  little  sur- 
prised at  what  has  happened,  he  takes  his  fate  bravely,  and  sets 
forward  without  delay  towards  the  place  assigned  as  the  rendexvoos 
of  the  paladins  (adventure-seeking  heroes)  who  are  to  take  part  in 
the  toumay. 

Though  the  narratives  which  have  as  their  subject  these  brilliant 
jousts  are  generally  the  parts  treated  by  the  authors  of  onr  poems 
with  a  partiality  justiiied  by  the  desire  of  pleasing  the  noble  lords  for 
whom  they  wrote,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  tonmament  which 
could  sustain  compnriKoii  with  that  of  Valedmi,  Walter  Scott  would 
soem^  to  have  been  inspired  by  it  in  his  account  of  the  famous  passage 
of  arms  at  Ashby.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  all  the  honour  of  the 
day  belongs  to  Jr.  Bel  Inconnu,  The  heat  of  the  battle  has  dissipated 
the  last  vestiges  of  his  love  for  the  Fairy  of  the  White  Hands.  Having 
maiTied  the  prmcess  of  Q alios,  he  delays  not  to  go  and  take  possession 
of  the  crown  which  so  many  high  deeds  have  rendered  him  worthy  of. 

All  this  tantalising  of  the  Lady  of  Sinadowne,  keeping  her 
waiting  for  her  lover  after  she  had  been  so  many  years  serpentised 
or  wivernised  by  the  two  necromancers,  the  English  adapter  has 
thought  unfair,  and  cut  out^  Must  not  we  sympathise  with  him? 
What  should  we  have  said  to  Mr.  Tennyson  if  he  had  kept  The 
Sleeping  Beauty  waiting  a  year  for  her  husband  after  she  had 
been  kissed?  Voted  him  a  hard-hearted  Frenchman,  clearly. 
But  of  course  he  has  done  nothing  so  wrong.  Well,  besides  this, 
the  adapter  has,  as  remarked  in  the  notes,  cut  out  all  about 
Senals  de  Biauju's  own  lady-love,  for  whom  he  composed  the 
poem — had  the  poor   Englishman  no   sweetheart? — all  about 

*  As  ho  died  iu  1832,  and  tho  Fn^nch  there  is  Bomo  difficulty  in  this  temhUrmi 
Rfjmaiico  was  not  published  till  1860,      a* en  etre  inspiri. 


UMini  piwtii(iij*&  411 

bX^Ftiw'*  fiuin-,  an  itoportant  pcrsonngc  in  the  French 

■11  about  llw  French  talp  of  tho  Falcon  (though 

i  IV.  nuijr  be  taken  to  ivprcficnt  ihU),  iSt.  <ic. 

On  tK«  oilwrkaiMt,  llio  wUptcr  inlroducoi  a  freah  Part  ( IV.} 

f  Into  tb«  English  tvsl :  puta  in  the  incident  of  L}'l>iua'fl  diving 

I  duwn  al  m  knight  and  ilidng  liia  head  off  (p.  492)  as  a  sort  of 

Iji-rmbeT  iKtfore  enci>aRt<:rtng   tli«   n«erciinuntic   itenln   of  tho 

I  Caitln  -t  Sinadowno;  and  alto  altenttic  ptaoo  of  tho  odrenturc 

I  -with  Sir  William  dc  U  Braiincli'ii  (nr  Bliuhleriii'H)  three  coiuin«, 

I  putting  it  licfurv,  injrtaai)  uf  oftirr,  the  tight  with  th«  two  gJiinU 

I  (p.  <l33-7(  and  p.  438-41 ),  I)Midc«  manjr  minor  variatiun^     The 

f  oT  the  ttarj  varioa  all  Uirougli ;  Imt  to  Ear  ati  I  ran  jndgo, 

I'ttM  wigioal  Frvnrh  of  De  Btauju  is  a  for  lieitrr  piecu  of  work 

haa  thai  of  anr  of  hia  adapt«ni. 

Of  Engliih  M.S.S.  of  /.y<iu*  I  know  only  Hn:  the  (>)tLin 

I  CaUgula  A  ii^  prinlvd  by  Ritnon  and  ^f.  Hippoaii ;  thir  fragtnotit 

lln  tli«   Luwuln'i  Inn  .MS.    150;   the   LamlN>lh    MS.  306;  uur 

IParcy  folJu,  an*)   the  Aahmole  3iS.  61,  leaf  38,  hock,  of  whioh 

wMt.  Coie.  Bodli^  librarian,  baa  jiut  told  mc.     Of  (bese  I  jodga 

r  tbe  lioooln'*  Inn  veilum  ime  to  be  the  fddeat,  both  in  writti^ 

(ab,  1430-IO  jutu),  and  In  Jta  preaemlion  of  the  early  double 

I  Tvwcl  fof  tho   later  ringlo  ota*,  yeo,  Mt^fet  keotd,  /cttL     Tin) 

paper  Cotton  MS.  come*  ueit  (aU  ]4fiO  A.a>;  third,  tbr  A«h- 

'  niel«  61,  on  p*pvr,  written  lowanln  the  end  of  the  lAth  oeuturjr, 

L  aif*  llr.  Cotm,  containing  TiOO  line*  mora  or  leai,  and  beginning 

■  CryM  owre  Sauyowrr* ;  then  tb«  Lambeth  on«,  alio  oo 

r  (7  about   1480  A.9.),  and  laatly  the  Pen.-}-.      The  Cotton 

1  il iatenitiag  on  account  of  ili  elian|[c»  tif  d  and  (A*,  which 

■  to  be  of  Berkihiro  txifpa, — if  one  may  Judge  from 

•  1W  rf  U  w^llld  •«  rt  In  Ik  Jr.  tl»,  L  tT).     0>  tk>  •«k*r  Uod.  i4 

V«lv*  ilM«f  —  ^f  la  nt  te  rf.  tn  Mfifr.  ankr,  L 

i  \IM .  Smrit,  Mn>.  I  I    I90r    '     

1,1  IWTi  irUWi, 


IWf.   L    IttI  ;  Ik  jttmr. 

letl ;    liM    W^liy,  1. 

iL^filf.  I   laSI  ;  tinr.  lUr.  L  lini 
lim,  iimtif.   I    llMi    OMVtt  dooo^ 


167*.    Mii 

L  iini 


412  LimUiS   DISC0NIU8. 

Mr.  Tom  Hiighes'H  books, — or  some  county  near.*  The  infini- 
tive in  y  also  shows  that  the  text  is  Southern':  anny,  arm, 
1.  216  ;  justy,  joust,  1.  909,  1.  951,  but  justs,  1.  1542  ;  schewy, 
show,  1.  746  ;  »pcnihjy  spend,  1.  986,  &c. 

Grateful  as  1  feel  to  M.  Uippeau  for  his  discovery  and  printing 
of  the  French  text,  I  owe  him  a  slight  grudge  for  describing 
"I'auteur  du  Canterbury  Talcd^'  as •'  le po^tique  traducteur  de  nos 
trouv^res,"  and  therefore  note  that  his  print  of  the  Cotton  MS.  is 
full  of  those  mistakes  that  "  a  remarkably  intelligent  foreigner" 
would  naturally  make,  u  for  7i,  and  n  for  u,  &c.*;  to  say 
nothing  of  other  forms  like  pryue  for  jnryue,  thrive;  kepts  for 
lepte,  1.  2039;  he  for  he,  1.  1388;  thogk  iyer  for  thoghtyer, 
doughtier,  1.  1091;  he  for  here,  her,  1.  887;  givych  for  swych, 
such,  1.  712 ;  Sweyn  for  Eweyn,  1.  219 ;  lymeaty  for  lyme  &,  lime 
and,  1.  713. 

It  may  look  rather  spiteful  to  print  these  things,  but  editors 
are  bound  to  consider  the  language  they  study  rather  than  other 
editors'  feelings  ;  and  with  the  full  conviction  tb at  I  invite  similar 
treatment  for  the  French  as  well  as  the  English  texts  I  have 
edited  and  may  edit,  and  that  in  all  there  are  and  will  be 
mistakes,^  I  hold  it  best  to  point  out  the  misreadings  in  Early 
English  that  come  across  me,  for  the  sake  of  the  language  and 

1.  1705  ;  tho,  do,  1.  631,  &o.,  and  in  many  zewy  ?  *   but  never,  *  Wull  ye  wwy  np 

other  places.     1  just  copy  the  few  that  I  thease  seam  ? '  " — Barnes,  p.  28. 
nof^il  ,yiarH  ago  on  a  blank  leaf,  when  *  deutes  for  dentes,  L   1304;  fou  for 

roarling  part  of  M.  Hi ppoau's  edition.  fon,  foes,  1.  1530,  1.  1950;  JoirwA  for 

'  Probably  Diirsetshi re.    I  hoard  drow  BAunj,  Fr.  aaiu,  without  1.  1860  [In  M 

for  throw  near  Weymouth  this  uutunm,  feldo   sauD)  fayle.     MS.  leaf  55,  back, 

and  Mr.  IJarues  nays  in  his  iirammar  col.  1,  line  18.      St^  the  last  lines  of 

and  Glo.ifari/  of  the  Dorntet  Diahct^  18G3,  the  pieces  in  note,  p  413];  kau  for  han,      I 

p.  IG,  "  Th  of  tlie  English  sonu'tinu-s,  have,  I.  1263;  wauHk  for  woneth,  dvells, 

and  mohtly  before  r,  b.H'onies  dy  as  druw  1.  657  ;  gau  for  gan,  diil,  1.  343 ;  deaerf» 

for  throw.     L'ouverfioly,  th  (ft)  ih  t*ub-  for  descr}Tic,  deneribo,  1.  1330,  1.  U28; 

8titutoxl  in  Dorset  for  the  English  (/,  as  honede  for  houede,  halted,  1.  1562;  ht' 

h/aier,  a  bhulder,  /rt&T,  a  ladder."     Mr.  uere  for  keuere,  recover,  1.  1983;  Imde 

lluglios  says  he  lioes  not  reinoniber  hear-  for  leuedc,  lived,  1.  2125. 
ing  tliis  th  and  d  change  in  Brrkshiro.  *  Claude  Platings  confeKiion,  '*moM  ^     > 

*  •*  In  the  Dorset  the  verb  takes  ,y  only  nortnur^  faoHflfe  n*t8t  pas  petite*  (i»ig» 

vhen  it  is  absolute,  and  never  with  an  415  here),  is  thn  moUo  for  many  of  w»     ' 

acousutivc  case.    We  may  say,  '  Can  yc  adding  carclcKsncav.  'i 


UBIUd  DISCOMIUS. 


413 


tin  studentn.  But  to  return  from  this  digression  ;  the  Lambeth 
MS.  \H  in  **  The  Wright's  Chaste  Wife  "  volume,  and  seems  to  be 
a  later  copy  of  a  text  like  the  Cotton.  Some  readings  from  it 
an*  given  in  the  notes  from  Mr.  W^arwick  King's  transcript 
of  it  fur  the  Early  English  Text  Society.  By  way  of  exhibiting 
■i>me  of  the  differences  of  the  five  English  texts,  I  put  beside  the 
fimt  bit  of  the  Lincoln's  Inn  fragment  the  passages  corresponding 
to  it  in  the  other  MSS.,'  and  at  the  end  of  the  Bomance  as 


*  liMCoim's  Imm  MH,  150.  Art,  \, 
Hui  sir  Ubr«s  na 

Ami  Tp  he'  con  bit  fiuige : 
f*«t  btf  rma  to  him. 
Ami  taioC  bin  vi^  maim. 

And  oCbrr  goo  a«A[ile.] 
«ttto  H«>  «1«J  WA«  djm€  . . 

K«>  bjmgrt  bf<oU  bataile. 
I«ibr«t  WM  wmrrjimr  wym 
And  laf  a  atiok  of  mjft 

K^vvi  |r*TOQ"  1^1  plat'  umI  Buulc, 
^unif  hb  •rnoUiir  buo, 
^  hti  rrft  arm  anon 

frol  ia  Ko  f*'bl  aaanfaile. 

Than  Kbcvio*  ranor  aw-vaje 
Tbrf*-  kao^u  •brUlf  lavf, 

Aftii  rp  be  into  bit  fang», 
Aati  raa  a-tfavDr  to  bjni. 
Wifb  •inAy  •bafpr  aii«l  fgrrmt 

Kjtbrr  <*tb«>r  ganne  aMajrlo. 
Till  tKr  daY  w«a  djrine, 
V|«>o  ih*  watir  biym 

Iff -twroc  \\t^\  waa  lt«tajrll«». 
L^rftf-oo*  w«a  w<*fT«x>«r  «igbt, 
Att*!  MR^*-  a  •trukr  of  niTKbt 

Tbftyvr  Xr^^rwrttr,  pUtc,  aod  majb*, 
TV<'ff^r»«r  tb«-  •bukirrUfOr. 
TS*al  bi»  Rigbt  Anna  A-fK>o««    (»«/»» J 

>f»il  la  fbc  feklt*  aaiittce  fajlr. 

A»kmUt  MS, 
THaa  ltt<ra#  ranar  A-wry 
T:*'!*  au^^«'  M-brM  lej, 

Acfl  T|>  br  i^nr  It  foagr; 
At*  M  *♦«•  r»*a*  to  by*  A-|roa,  (>«af  4^J 
A^'!  •m*Ji0'  hrm  vitA  mrirnr; 

T  '  h  ''^y  «a«  tUMiiiir, 


Cot,  Caiig,  A.  H,  leqfiO,  eoi,  1. 
Kmdc  lybeaaoa  ran  awar 
>civ  Mt  mangja  tcbald  la j. 

And  Tp  he  gan  hjt  fonge, 
And  Ran  a-gajn  to  bjm.  [«o><  Y) 

WitA  atrokea  atrout  &  grym 

T<Hffjdere  Vfj  goane  a-Mjrli*. 
Be-syde  M  nmeK  brjm, 
TjlU  bjt  derk«de  dym, 

Ba*twene  bem  wan  batajle. 
Ljbeamia  waa  werroorv  wj|t. 
And  imoi  a  ftrok  of  my|t 

K>ni|  gnwlU,  plat4>,  &  mayll/. 
Foi>  witA  pe  ■rboldrrr  bun. 
Mangya  ann  fvlU  of  a-noon 

ln>lo  ^  feld  sanni  fayle. 

Drrey  FoNo,  p,  337. 
tbeo  .Sir  Lybiui  nnn  away 
tbitbtr  wvn»  Mangin  iibeild  Lay  ; 

is,  rp  be  can  itt  gtit, 
&.  ran  againe  to  bim, 
witb  ttnakra  great  and  grim 

tdgvtbrr  tbry  did  a«wiyle  ; 
ibrro  lieBide  tbo  watt<*r  brimne 
till  ii  Taard  wonderoan  drimn, 

bctweeoo  tbrm  laated  tAal  batlrll. 
H4r  Ljbittii  was  warryour  vigbt« 
it  tmolr  a  ttrnke  of  morb  migbt ; 

tbriHigb  bawbvrkr,  pbit«  and  maile, 
)irf>  •m<>t«  of  by  tbr  i»booldrr  Iwnr 
bin  rigbt  armi*  aoone  and  anon 

into  tbe  flr-ild  witb-ont  (fiule. 

Tb«*  knr«btrj  brld  liatrylr. 
Syir  liUu»  wiw  wcn«iurr  wy|bt. 
And  gaue  «tn*kr«  of  myjht 

TbniU)bt  platr  ami  nuklr, 
Antl  tbniw  bin  nebuldrr  liune, 
Tliat  hy  rrgbl  Arm**  Am»n# 

h'vW  in  K  fekl  witinrntea  {n>yU, 


414  UBIUS   DISCONIUS. 

priiitefl  liere,  p.  497,  will  be  found  the  endings  of  the  Lincoln's 
Inn,  Cotton,  Lambeth,  and  Ashmole  texts,  for  further  contrast 
with  the  languiige  of  the  Percy  folio.  I  have  not  had  time  to 
collate  them  throughout,  and  Mr.  Brock,  who  began  the  collation 
with  tlie  Cotton  MS.,  soon  gave  it  up  as  involving  too  much 
time  and  trouble  for  an  adequate  result,  the  second  volume  of 
Kitson  being  easily  accessible  to  all  readers. 
Bitson  says  that  this  Komance 

was  certainly  printed  before  the  year  IfiOO,  being  mention'd  by  the 
name  of  ^^Llbhiua"  in  "  Vertucs  common  wealth  :  or  The  high  way  to 
honour,"  by  Henry  Crosse,  publish'd  in  that  year;  and  is  even 
alluded  to  by  Skelton,  who  dye'd  in  1529 : 

And  of  sir  Libiua  named  Ducoiiua,  .  .  . 

A  story  similar  to  that  which  forms  the  principal  subject  of  the 
present  poem  may  be  found  in  the  "Voiage  and  travaile  of  sir  John 
Maiindeville  "  (London,  1725,  8vo.  P.  28).  It,  likewise,  by  some 
moiins,  lias  made  its  way  into  a  pretendedly  ancient  Northhnmbrian 
ballad  intitle'd  "  The  laidly  worm  of  Spindleston-hcngh,"  writcn,  in 
reality,  by  KobeH  Lambe,  vicar  of  Norham,  anthour  o£  The  histonj 
of  chess,  <fec.,  who  had,  however,  hear'd  some  old  stanzas,  of  which 
he  avaird  himself,  sung  by  a  maid-servant.  The  remote  original  of 
all  these  store's  was,  probablely,  much  older  than  the  time  of 
Herodotns,  by  whom  it  is  relateed  {Urania), 

In  French  there  was  a  prose  translation  of  a  Spanish  romance 
mixing  up  a  Charlemagnian  hero  with  our  Arthurian  Gryngelayn, 
printed  in  1530,  which  Brunet  (ed.  1814)  enters  thus: 

GiOLAX  (rin'stoire  de),  fils  de  messire  Ganvain,  qui  fnt  roi  deOalles; 
et  de  Geoffi'oy  de  Mayence,  son  compaiguon:  translate  d'espoignol  en 
fran^'ois  par  Claude  Platin,  IjifMi^  CI.  Nofim/y  1530,  tn-4.  gotJufig. 

This  is,  says  M.  Hippeau,  a  fairly  correct  reproduction  of  the 
French  Li  Biaus  DesconnetiSj  "sauf  quelques  additions  peu 
henreuses."     His  extract   from   Claude   Platings  prologue  Is  so 

pretty  that  I  give  it  here : 

Pdur  rvit(?r  oysivete,  mere  ct  noumce  des  vices,  et  aussi  ponr 
conipliiiro  a  tons  ceulx  qui  preiment  plaisir  a  lire  et  k  ouyp  h're  les 
livres  des  ancicns,  qui  out  vcscu  si  vertaeuscment  en  lenr  tempff, 


LIBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


415 


qne  la  renom^e  en  sera  jusqnes  &  la  fin  du  si^cle,  lesqnelles  cBuvres 
vertueuses  doivent  esmouvoir  les  cueurs  des  hnmains  de  les  ensnyvir 
en  yertas  en  haultz  faitz,  moi  Fb^re  Claude  Platin,  humble  religienx 
de  Tordre  monseigneur  sainct  Anthoine,  ung  jonr,  en  une  petite 
librairie  oil  j'estoye,  trouvay  un  gros  livre  de  parchemin  bien  vieil, 
escript  en  rime  espaignole,  assez  difficile  k  entendre,  auquel  trouvay 
une  petite  hystoire  laaqelle  me  sembla  bien  plaisante,  qni  parloit  de 
deux  nobles  cheyaliers  qui  ^irent  du  temps  du  noble  roi  Artus  et  des 
nobles  chevaliers  de  la  Table- Ronde.  .  .  J'aj  done  voulu  translater  la 
diete  hystoire  de  cette  rime  espaignole,  en  prose  francojse,  au  moins 
mal  que  j'ay  petl,  selon  mon  petit  entendement,  k  celle  fin  que  plus 
facilement  peust  estre  entendue  de  ceulx  qui  prendront  plaisir  k  la 
lire  ou  oujr  lire :  ausquelz  je  prie  que  les  faultes  qui  j  seront  trouv^es, 
lis  les  Yueillent  corriger,  et  excuser  mon  ignorance,  laquelle  n'est  pas 
petite ;  et  aussi  de  ne  se  arrester  ausdictes  &ultes,  mais  s'il  y  a  riens 
de  bon,  qu'ilz  en  facent  leur  prouffit. 

With  what  better  commendation  to  the  reader  can  I  close  this 
Tambling  Introduction,  or  leave  him  to  study  the  poem  of  ^^  The 
Fayre  Unknown  "  ? 


*  IeSUS  Christ,  Christen  Kinge,* 
&  his  mother  tJuit  sweete  thing,' 

helpe  them  att  their  neede 
tJiat  will  listen  to  my  tale ! 
of  a  knight  I  will  you  tell,* 

a  doughiye  man  of  deede, 


ChrlBtand 
Uary 


help  my 
bearers  1 


ini  teU  yon 


>  The  Romance  in  the  Cotton 
Caligula  A  ii.  begins  thus : 

iirciPiT  LTTOArs  Discoxirs. 


MS. 


%  Ih«ra  cryst  ours  sauyourf, 

And  hys  modyr  fxfft  swete  flowiv, 

Helpe  hem  at  hei«  nede 
|>at  harkene[>  of  a  conquerour?, 
Wys  of  wytte,  &  whyjt  werrottr, 
And  dou^ty  man  yn  dede. 

Hys  name  was  called  Geynleyn ; 
Be-yete  he  was  of  gyr  Gawtyn 

Be  a  forest  syde. 
Of  stouten  kny^t  &  pn>fy table 


"With  artoure  of  l^e  Rounde  table, 
Ne  herde  ye  neu^*  Kede. 

^  Ijjb  Gynleyn  was  fayw  of  syjt, 
Gentyll«  of  body,  of  face  biyjt, 

Alle  bastard  ^ef  he  were. 
Hys  modyr  kepte  hy»i  yn  clos 
For  douute  of  wykkede  loos, 

As  dou^ty  chyld  &  dere. — F. 

*  our«  sauyouitf. — C. 
■  flowr^. — C. 

*  |)at  harkene[>  of  a  conquerour^ 
wys  of  wytte  &  why3t  werroMr. — C. 


416 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


ofOInglainc, 

bafltonlfion 
of  Sir 
Oawmiae. 


liiB  namo  was  clcpcd  ^  Ginglaine  ; 
8     gotten  he  was  of  Str  (Jawaino 
vnder  a  fibrrest  side ; 
a  better  ^  knight  wttbont  fiable,' 
With  Arthur  att  the  round  table, 
12         yee  heard  ncucr  of  read. 


[Pi«e31 


iru  mother 
tried  to 
prevent  him 
seeing  a 
knight, 


becauKhe 
was  Bavage. 


Gingglaine  was  fiairc  &  bright,^ 
an  hardyc  man  and  a  wight,^ 
bastard  thoe  heo  were. 
16     ^  his  mother  kept  him  with  all  her  might, 
ffor  he  shold  not  of  noe  armed  Kntght 

liaue  a  sight  in  noe  mannere. 
but  he  was  soe  sauage, 
20     &  lightlyo  wold  doe  outrago 
to  his  ffellowes  in  fibre.* 
his  mother  kept  him  close 
ffbr  dread  ^  of  wicked  losse, 
24         as  hend  ®  child  and  doero. 


His  mother 
called  him 
BeanflK 
becaurtf  ho 
wan 
handaomc. 


Onoday 


ffbr  ®  hee  was  soe  fiaire  &  wise,'® 
his  mother  cleped  him  beufise,^^ 
&  none  other  name ; 
28     &  himselfe  was  not  soe  wise  '* 
that  hee  asked  not  I- wis 

what  hee  hight  ^'  of  his  dame, 
soe  itt  bcfibll  vpon  a  day 
32     Gingglaine  '^  went  to  play, 


•  called.- C. 
'  stouter**.-  C. 
■  &  profy table. — C. 

*  of  8y?t.— C. 

*  Oentyllf  of  Ixxly,  efface  bryjt. 
•— •  From  h'w  to  ft'ero  omitted  in  C. 
'  douuto. — 0. 

•  doujty. — C 


*  [And]  for,  i.e.  beeaiiBe. — ^P. 
**  And  forff  lone  of  hji  fiijw  TTys. 
— C. 
"  Beau-rise. — ^P.    bewfis. — C. 
— C.  "  was  fiillc  nye. — C. 

— F.  *'  what  he  was  called ;  what  hii  NaD> 

was.    SeoSt.ll.--P. 
'*  To  wode  be.— C. 


L1BIU8  DUKX)KIU8. 


417 


wild  deere  to  hunt  ffor  game ; 
A  tMhe  went  ouer  the  Lay, 
ho  spjod  a  knight  was  stoat  A  ghj^ 

thai  soone  he  made  ffoll  tame.* 


iMMMft 

knictai, 
knit  him. 


then  he  did  on  ^  thai  KntgktB  weede, 
&  himselfe  therin  jeede,* 
into  that  rich  armonre ; 
40     &  when  ho  had  done  that  deede, 
to  Olasenbnry  swithe  ^  heo  jeede, 

there  Laj  Kin^  Arthur. 
A  when  he  came  into  the  hall 

44  amonge  the  Lords  and  Ladjea  all, 

he  grett  *  them  with  honore. 
And  said,  "  King  Arthur,  mj  Lord !  * 
suffer  me  to  speoke  a  word, 

45  I  praj  jou  par  amoure  ^ : 


pate  OB  hla 


foctto 
OUuUn 


bunr,  to 

King 

▲rthnr, 


ModrnkM 
Arthur 


*  ^  I  am  a  child  yncouthe ; 
come  I  am  out  of  the  south, 
A  wold  be  made  a  knight. 

55  1-1  jccrc  old  I  am, 

&  of  warre  well  I  cann, 

therfore  grant  me  mj  right.'* 
then  said  Arthur  the  King  strong 

56  to  the  child  thai  was  soo  joungc,* 


to  knitfht 
him.  M  he's 
foiirt««>n, 
and  can 
flfhu 


Arthur 


TV  CoCtAo  M5.  rMklt : 

li»  fua>l  A  kaTft,  vbarr  hr  Ur, 

la  umf  Mt  vrrr  at*mt  Sc  fpij, 

larUjror  Sc  oukU  fullr  tAJnr. — F. 
hrt  rhrM  di^  of-  C. 
And  mtum  hr  icao  hjm  KhroJe.— C. 
J  r>^m\<t>,  Jan.     P. 
.Ji.i  $^r*-*<.     V. 

Mai*  rii  li  dist     **  Aio«  BlVtcuiit^. 
.Kr^m.  Trniit  tiai  4  Ui  cnrt . 
i  4r  u'l  (murm,  commrot  qa'il  cnrt, 
lH-1  |inaiirr  don  qoc  je  4Urmii : 


Auiui-U  je,  u  Itf"  j*  fkiinu? 
IVmn^li*  BMM  K  n*i  prnwr 
T*nt  f«prtodrf  ;  m*  V  doii  r^r." 
**  Je  1«*  ru«  doos:  cr  diftt  li  rt>ts.'* 

/^  M  Jm€vmmn,  1.  S*i-0.  |>.  4. 

*  |4ir««inoor.  or  |irrlu|«  i*i*ur  aniuur ; 
it  IB  utA  hrrr  A  ruin|ioun«!  word.  •iKni* 
fjiOfC  Matre*4 ,  Ixit  is  a  l'hnyM<  rt|iur«> 
Uot  to  thAt  (id)  St.  U.  Itn   3.     I*. 

*  Thi«  atAiua  i«  (ktiiittcti  in  C  Tbo 
UmUlh  MS.  34)6  bM  it.     F. 

*  Atx*uQ  witAuvtr  anjr  dwelljrng.— C 


416 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


ofOIngliUnc, 

bofitanl  don 
of  Sir 
Qawnino. 


liis  name  was  clepcd  ^  Ginglainc  ; 
8     gotten  he  was  of  S/r  Gawaino 
vnder  a  fibrrost  side ; 
a  better  *  knight  without  fiable,' 
W/th  Arthur  att  the  round  table, 
12         yco  heard  neuer  of  read. 


rpiice  3181 


nU  mother 
tried  to 
provcnt  bim 
weinga 
koiglit, 


becansi'  ho 
waa  Mivagc 


Gingglaino  was  fiaire  &  bright/ 
an  hardyc  man  and  a  wight,^ 
bastard  thoo  hoc  were. 
16     ^  his  mother  kept  him  wtth  all  her  might, 
fTor  he  shold  not  of  noe  armed  Knight 

haue  a  sight  in  noe  manncre. 
but  he  was  soe  sauage, 
20     &  lightlyo  wold  doe  outrage 
to  his  ffellowes  in  ficro.^ 
his  mother  kept  him  close 
ffor  dread  ^  of  wicked  losse, 
24         as  hend  ®  child  and  doere. 


HU  mothor 
calleil  him 
Bcaiiflso 
bocaiiHe  he 
wari 
huiidsonic. 


Onoday 


ffor®  hee  was  soe  ffaire  &  wiso,'^ 
his  mother  cleped  him  beufiso,** 
&  none  other  name ; 
28     &  himsclfe  was  not  soe  wise  '* 
thut  hee  asked  not  I- wis 

what  hee  hight  ^'  of  his  dame, 
soe  itt  beffell  vpon  a  day 
32     Gingglaine  ^*  went  to  play, 


•  called.— C. 

'  stouter/'. — C. 

■  &  l»r(*f)'tablc. — C. 

*  of  syn.— C. 

*  Gentylh'  of  body,  of  face  bryjt. — C. 
•— «  /Vr>;//  liis  to  ffcro  omitted  in  C. — F. 
'  douuto.-  C 

•  doiuty. —  C 


*  [And]  for,  i.e.  becttuse. — ^P. 
*•  And  few  loue  of  hys  fiiyw  Tjys. 

"  Beau-iiBo.— P.    bewfis. — C. 
"  wjiB  fiillc  nys. — C. 
*'  what  he  vas  called ;  what  his  Xibm 
was.    Soe  St.  1 1.— P. 
"  To  wode  be.-~C. 


L1BIU8  DUKX>KIU8. 


417 


wild  deere  to  hunt  ffor  game ; 
d  Ml  he  went  oner  the  Lay, 
he  spjed  a  knight  was  stoat  A  g^j, 

thai  soone  ho  made  ffull  tame.* 


iMMMft 

knictai, 
knit  him. 


then  he  did  on  ^  thai  ¥inigktB  weede, 
&  himselfo  therin  jeede,* 
into  thai  rich  armonro ; 
40     &  when  ho  had  dono  thai  deede, 
to  Olasenbnry  swithe  ^  heo  jeede, 

there  Laj  Kin^  Arthor. 
A  when  he  came  into  the  hall 

44  amonge  the  Lords  and  Ladjea  all, 

he  grett  *  them  with  honore. 
And  said,  '*  King  Arthur,  mj  Lord !  ^ 
sofier  me  to  speoko  a  word, 

45  I  praj  yon  par  amonre  ^ : 


pate  OB  hla 


foctto 
OUuUni- 
bunr,  to 

Kloc 
▲rthor. 


ModrnkM 
Artliar 


*^*l  am  a  child  yncouthe ; 
come  I  am  out  of  the  south, 
A  wold  be  made  a  knight. 
52      1-1  jecre  old  I  am, 

&  of  warre  well  I  cann, 

therf«>rc  grant  me  mj  right.'* 
then  said  Arthur  the  Ki'ii^  strong 
&6      to  the  child  thai  was  soo  jounge,* 


to  knlirhi 
hint.  M  tw't 
fonrttvn, 
and  CAB 
flffhU 


Anhur 


TV  Cotton  M5.  rnkit : 

H»  ft>ni|  B  karft.  vbarr  hr  Ur, 

la  umf  Mt  vrrr  tumt  it  fpij, 

1  •rU/or  St  oumIo  fall/  tABir. — F. 
Ht  rhjM  d'^  of.     C. 
.\nd  Bi>«ia  hf  fpkn  hrm  achroJe. — C. 
I  r<«ai|44>.  Jun.     P. 

Mai*  rti  li  diftt  :   "  Aio«  m'rBcuotcB. 
Ar^B.  Tr^na*  tui  b  ta  cort ; 
i  t^r  b  t  Caara,  rvaimrnt  <|a'il  ci«rt, 
Ivi  iinmirr  don  «|ac  je  4uriTBi : 


AuriU-U  JB,  a  1^  j*  iaarai? 
lKmB^-l<*  moi  H  n'i  prnwr 
Tanl  fHipreadrv  ;  nr  I'  (1«hb  rt^r." 
**  Jf*  Ir  ru«  dooa:  cr  dt»C  li  rt>ts." 

Ar  /M  /BAmww.  1.  S2-0.  |>.  4. 

*  {mr-amoar.  or  |icrlu|iB  |«iiar  aaioar ; 
it  in  not  hrn*  a  cucd|ioud«!  word.  •iKni* 
(ti&m:  MtstrtAs ;  )>at  i»  a  I'hraiM'  r«|ajrB* 
l«ot  to  that  (in)  .'^.  U.  lin.  3.     I*. 

*  Thi*  •tAiuDii  IB  (miittcd  in  C  Th* 
LamWih  MS.  34M  haa  it.     F. 

*  .\-u«>uo  vitAoatr  anjr  dvell^nir— C\ 


418 


LIBIUS  DIfiCONIUS. 


asks  him  his 
namo. 


Ginglalne 
Mynhc 
(loi«n*t 
kiiow. 


but  bis 
mother 
calls  him 
licaufisc. 


Arthur  says 
"  by  God  It's 
odd  yon 

don't  know 
year  own 
name! 


ril  giro  yon 
one 


that  yonr 
mother 
never  called 
you, 


and  that  is 
Lybius 
DifConiuB  *' 
(the  fair 
unknown, 
or  handmmo 
stnuigiT). 


60 


64 


68 


72 


76 


80 


84 


"  tell  me  what  thou  hight  * ; 
for  neuer  sithe  I  was  borne 
sawe  I  neuer  heere  befome  * 

noo  child  soe  ffaire  of  sight. 


»f 


the  child  said,  "  by  St.  lame,' 
I  wott  not^  what  is  my  name  ! 

I  am  the  more  vnwise' ; 
but  when  I  dwelled  att  home,* 
my  mother  in  her  game 

cleped  mee  beaufise." 
then  said^  Arthur  the  Ktn^, 
&  said,  "  this  is  a  wonderous  thing, 

by  god  &  by  S!  Denise, 
ihut  thou  wold  bo  a  Knight^ 
&  wott  nott  what  thou  hight, 

&  art  soe  ffaire  and  wise*  I 

^*  now  I  will  giue  thee  a  name 
heere  amonge  all  you  in-same ; 

for  thou  art  soe  ffaire  and  free,*— 
I  say,  by  god  &  by  S^  lame, 
soe  cleped  thee  neuer  thy  dame, 

wliat  woman  that  euer  shoe  bee  ;- 
call  yee  him  all  thius,* 
Lybius  Disconius  ** ; 

ffor  the  loue  of  mee 
looke  yee  call  him  this  name ; 
both  in  emest  &  in  game, 

certes,  soe  hight  shall  hee.^^  *' 


'  hyn  name  aplyjt. — C. 

•  Ne  fond  y  me  bo-fore. — C. 

■  Cil  li  respont :  **  Certos  ne  sai, 
Mais  quo  tant  dire  vos  en  fei, 
Quo  hielfil  m*apieloit  ma  m6re ; 
No  jc  ne  sUi  he  je  oi  pere." 

Le  Bel  Inconnu,  1.  115-18,  p.  6. 
I  not. — C.  •  nys. — C 

hame,  idem. — P.  '  spake. — F, 

fiiyrf  of  vys.— C.  *  thus. — P. 


>*  lybeftu  desooniiti — C     Tlw  Fvenet 
has,  p.  n : 

'*  Et  por  ce  qv'il  na  m  eomraistv 
li  BiACB  Dnoomhhjs  ait  aon ! 
Si  rnommeroiit  tot  mi  bazon." 
Le  beans  Beseomia,  i.e.  tfas  fun  on< 
known. — ^P. 
"  |«n  may  ye  wete  a  vowa 
)>e  fkyre  ynknove 
Series  00  hatte  ha. — C. 


LIBIU8  DI8C01fIU& 


419 


Kifi^  Arthur  anon-right 
With  a  sword  ffaire  &  bright,* 
tmlje  thai  same  daj 
$8     dabbed  Mat  Child  a  knight,' 
And  gaue  him  armes  bright'; 

fforsooth  afi  I  yon  saj, 
hee  gaue  to  him  in  thai  ilke 
91    a  rich  sheeld  all  oo^r  gilte 
wi'th  a  griffon  M>e  g^j,^ 
&  tooke  him  to  Sir  Gawaine  * 
ffor  to  teach  him  on  tho  plaine 
96        of  euery  princes  •  play.^ 


ThMiArtlMV 
LjMu. 


[iMfoSl*]    ff*v«akiM 


OMralMto 


when  heo  was  made  a  knight, 
of  the  boone  *  he  asked  right,* 
&  said,  ^  my  Lord  soe  ffree, 
100    in  my  hart  I  wold  be  glad 
the  first  battell  if  I  had 

thai  men  asked  of  thee." 
then  said  Arthur  the  King, 
104     **  I  grant  thee  thine  askinge, 

wliatt  battell  thai  ener  itt  bee ; 
bnt  coer  mcthinke  thoa  art  to  yoang 
ffor  to  doe  a  c^ood  '*  fighting, 
108        by  oaght  thai  I  can  see. 


L|1ilw 


totoCkiM 


•v. 

ArOrnr 


livttklaka 
Kr  ■  too 
|«Minir  to 
flfbtwrll. 


when  ho  had  him  thus  told, 
Dukes,  £rles,  and  Barons  bold,** 


*  Ami  jmi  bja  amr*  bnr|t.— C. 


r 


Hva  grrtt«  vtU  twcnU  of  nyit. 


•  fTjif"nn  of  Mj.—  C. 
.\x>d  b}m  \f-t6k  hjf  fjuljrr  gsvcjn. 


r 


«*-hf  knytir*.— C. 

Ab  4  wMraui  to  hmrt  h^rn  bluil«*d  uat 


afUr  tb#  y  in  Um  MH.— P. 

*  <Hb#r  bcioo*.  or  aatichrr  buooe,  or 
Od^  other  Ii».     V. 

*  Anoo  A  Iwjfw  ^  hr  \mA. — C. 

**  tkmg,     which     fuJ)«»v«,     lut     tern 
nurkrti  .Kit  in  the  MM.     F. 
*'  WitA  ontr  iQiirp  r^r«tMtn 
I>ttk.  KriasbMu«iL*C. 


420 


UBIU8  DISCOKIUS^ 


fUaeoir  wild 
fuwl  and 


ooinefnboi 


dMnA'l  and 
Advaif. 


is 
HeUm; 

riwbringBA 


fromalAdj, 


and  is  clad 
in  green. 


washed  &  went  to  meate ; 
lis     of  wild  ffonle  ^  and  venison,^ 
as  lords  of  great  renowne, 

inongbe  they  had  to  eate. 
they  had  not  sitten  not  a  stoure, 
116     well  the  space  of  halfe  an  hower, 
talking  att  their  meate,' 
there  came  a  damsell  att  that  tyde/ 
&  a  dwarffe  ^  by  her  side, 
120         all  sweating  ^  fibr  heate ; 

the  Maidens  name  was  Hellen  ; 
sent  shee  was  vnto  the  Eang,^ 
a  Ladyes  messenger. 
124     the  maiden  was  ware  &  wise, 

&  cold  doe  her  message  att  device,^ 

shee  was  not  to  ffere  '  ; 
the  maid  was  ffaire  &  sheene, 
128     shee  was  cladd  all  in  greene  ^® ; 

&  ffdrred  **  wtth  Blaundemere  **  ; 


»  take  y.  heddes  of  [=oflr|  all  felde 
bjrdes  and  wood  bjrdes,  as  fesande,  pc- 
cucke,  partryche,  woodcocke,  and  curlewe, 
for  they  ete  in  theyrdc^rrees  foule  thynges, 
as  wormes,  todes,  and  other  8uche.  Boke 
of  Keruynge  in  Babees  Book  &o.,  E.  E, 
T.  Soc.  p.  279.  See  the  capitaf  bit 
about  venison  from  Andrew  Boide,  t6. 
p.  210-11.— F. 

•  Of  all<?  manere  fiisoun. — C. 

■  Ne  baddo  artour«  bote  a  whylo 
^  mouittaunce  of  a  myle 

At  hys  table  y-sete. — C. 

•  a  mayde  Ryde. — C. 

•  dwerk. — C. 

■  be-swette. — C. 

•  Gentyll«  bryjt  &  schene. — C. 

•  i.e.  Will,    Pleasure.      See    Chaur 
Gloss.— P. 

•  ^er  nas  contesse  ne  quene 
So  semolychtf  on  to  sene 
|>at  myjte  be  herf  pere. — C. 

*•  Sche  was  clodej?  in  tars 

Ilowme  &  nodyng  skars. — C. 
"  pelured. — C. 


"  Blaunchmer,  a  kind  of  for. 

He  ware  a  cyrcote  that  was  grene ; 
"With  hlaunchtner  it  was  furred,  I  wene. 
SyrDegore,  701  in  Halli well's  Glossary. 

This  word  comes  in  so  oddly  that  1 
Qonldi  almost  be  tempted  to  think  that 
Chaucer  in  his  burlesque  Romanee  of 
Sir  Thopas  might  allude  to  it  sportiTelT, 
as  thus: 

Sir  Libeaux  and  the*  Blaundemeiv 
ScilJ  the   Blaundemere   Furr  mentioofli 
in  his  Romance  &c.     But  after  all  per- 
haps this  construction  is  too  forced. 

N.B.  It  might  be  the  other  VeisioD 
wAicb  Chaucer  alludes  to. 

See  Chaucer's  Rhyme  of  Sir  Tbopas» 
where  this  word  seems  to  be  mistaken, 
viz.: 

Men  speken  of  Romaunces  of  Pris, 

Of  Homechild  and  of  Ipotis 
Of  Bevis  &  Sir  Gie 

Of  Sir  Libeaux  and  Blaindamoure 

But  Sir  Thopas  bereth  the  ilowre 
Of  rich  ChiTalrie. — P. 


(or  his) 


LIBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


421 


her  saddle  was  ouergiltc, 
&  well  bordered  with  silke,* 
132         &  white  *  was  her  distere.' 


the  dwarfe  was  cladd  with  scarlett  fline, 
&  ffared  well  with  good  ^Ermine ;  * 
stout  he  was  &  keene  ^ ; 
136     amonge  all  christen  kind 

such  another  might  no  man  find  ^ ; 

his  cercott  ®  was  of  greene  *  ; 
his  haire  was  yellow  as  fflower  on  mold,*® 
140    to  his  girdle  hang  ^^  shining  as  gold,*^ 
the  sooth  to  tell  in  veretye ; 
all  *'  his  shoone  with  gold  were  dight, 
all  as  gSLj  as  anj  ^^  knight, 
144         there  sseemed  no  pouertje. 


The  dwarf 

wears 

scarlet, 

is  stoat. 


has  long 
yellow  hair, 


Teddelyne  was  his  name,** 
wide  sprang  of  him  the  fame,*® 
East,  west.  North  &  south; 
148     much  he  cold  of  game  &  glee, 


is  named 
Teddelyne, 


*  Here  sadellf  &  here  biydelle  yn  fere 
Full*  of  djamandys  were. — C. 

The  author  of  the  French  Romance  gives 
a  fuller  description  of  Maid  Hellen,  or 
He/U  as  he  calls  her.    Doubtless  it  is 
his  own  love,  for  whom  he  composed  the 
Romance,  whom  he  sketches. 
Gente  de  cors  et  de  ris  biile : 
D'un  samit  estoit  bien  restuo  ; 
Si  bi^le  riens  ne  fu  veue. 
Face  ot  blance  com  flors  d'este, 
Come  rose  ot  ris  color^ 
Le  iouls  ot  rairs,  bouce  riant, 
Les  mains  blances,  oors  avenant ; 
Bel  cief  aroit^  si  estoit  blonde : 
Kot  plus  biel  cief  feme  del  monde  ! 
En  son  cief  ot  un  cercle  d'or ; 
8es  perles  valent  un  tr^sor 
Sor  un  palefroi  ceTau9oit.  (p.  6.) — F. 

*  Melk.— C. 

*  apud  Chauc.  Destrer,  a  War-horse,  or 


Led  Horse.    Vid.  Gloss.— P. 

•  One  stroke  too  few  in  this  word  in 
the  MS.— F. 

•  >?e  dwerke  was  clode|>  yn  ynde 
Be-fbre  &  ek  be-hynde. — C. 

•  pert.— C. 

'  limd  in  the  MS.— F. 

•  Surcoat — A  gown  &  hood  the  same, 
an  upper  coat,  Ch.  Qloss. — P. 

•  was  ouert. — C. 

>*asonywax. — C.  Not  in  the  French. 
— F. 

*'  hung.— P.        "  henge  \>e  plex. — C. 

"  als,  also. — P. 

"  And  kope>  as  a. — C. 

"  The  French  Romance  doesn't  name 
him  till  he  and  Hellen  leave  the  court, 
and  it  calls  him  TidogoUiinSy  1.  256, 
p.  10.— F.     Teaudelnyn.— C. 

»•  MS.  same.— F.  fame.— P.  wellc 
swydo  sprong  hys  name. — C. 


422 


LIBIU8  DI8C0MIU& 


i«  A  irood 
fiddkr, 


minrtrvl 
•Dfl  jostcr 


a  jolly  man 
withladicd. 


ffiddle,  cpowde,*  and  Bowtiyc, 

he  was  a  mcny  man  of  month  *  ; 
harpc,  ribble  •  &  saniiyey 
152    he  cold  mnch  of  Minstrelsyo, 
he  was  a  good  Icstonre, 
there  was  none  snch  in  noe  oonntry ; 
a  lolly  man  fibrsooth  was  hee 
156        With  Lad  JOS  in  their  bower. 


IIcllCTl  given 

Arthur  her 
mciwige: 


IGO 


then  he  bade  maid  Hellen 
ffor  to  tell  her  tale  bj-deeno, 

&  kncele  before  the  King, 
the  maid  kneeled  in  the  ball 
among  the  Lords  &  Ladjes  all, 

&  said,  "  my  Lord !  wtthont  Leasing 


hrr  la/ly,  of 

Binadone, 

isiudytrcsa, 


ami  liogH  for 
A  knight  to 
fight  for  Iter. 


LybiuH  at 
oiico 


''  There  is  a  strong  case  toward ; 
)64     there  [is]  none  such,  nor  boo  hard, 
nor  of  soe  much  dolour. 

my^  Lady  of  Sinadone 

is  brought  to  strong  prison, 
168         that  was  of  great  valoure ; 

slice  prayes  you  of '  a  Knight 

fTor  to  win  her  in  ffight 
with  ioy  &  much  honor.**  • 
172     vp  rose  that  younge  Knight^ 


[pogeaSO] 


»  A  kind  of  fiddlo.— F. 

'  jVIyche  he  cuu)>e  of  game, 
with  sytule  Hnutyrc  yn  same 
harpo  fydole  &  croujn*. — C. 

•  There  is  none  of  this  in  the  French. 
— F.  Al  can  thry  phiy  on  gitternc  nnd 
rubiblo.  Oh>A''«  Tale.  Tho  gitemc  was 
a  small  fruitar,  and  thn  ribiblo  a  small 
fiddlo  playo^l  by  a  bow,  and  not  by  hand 
as  th«  gilornr  was.  Jerome  of  Moravia 
wn's  of  tho  rilible,  Kibible,  or  Kibibc: 
— •*  Est  autom  ruhefta  musicum  instru- 
ment um  habens  solum  duas  cordaa  sono 
distantos  a  so  perdiapente,  quod  quidom, 


Bicut  et  viella,  cum  area  tangitnr." — ^W.  C. 
ribble,  a  fiddle  or  gnittem,  QL  Ch. — ^1*. 
«  M&  ny— F. 

•  of  you. — ^P. 

*  The  French  adds  Bome  linos  aboat 
the  kiss,  on  which  so  much  tuns  at  the 
end: 

"  Certes  moolt  anroit  grant  honnor 

Icil  qui  de  mal  restordrmti 

Kt  qui  le  Fibb  Baibiwi  feroit 

Mais  pros  que  il  li  a  mestier  I 

Onques  n*ot  %t\  k  cheralier. 

Ja  maurais  horn  le  don  ne  qni^ ; 

Tot  en  giroit  en  Ten  en  biin!  **  (pi  8.) 


LIBIU8  DUSOOmUfl. 


423 


in  his  hart  ho  was  fiiill  light, 
A  taid,  "  my  Lord  Arthur, 


^  my  coaenant  ia  to  hano  that  6ght 
17e     ffor  to  winne  thai  Lady  bright, 
if  thou  be  true  of  word." 
tho  King  said  without  othc, 
**  thereof  thou  Baiest  soothe, 
ino        thereto  I  beare  record ; 


rlaiou  th« 
flgbt. 


Arthar 


li 


to  him. 


ft 


**  god  thee  giue  strenght  A  might 
ffor  to  winne  thai  Ladje  bright 
with  sheeld  &  with  speare  dint ! 
IM     then  began  the  maid  to  say, 
A  said,  **  alas  thai  ilke  day 
thai  I  was  hither  sent !  " 
shee  said,  "  this  word  will  spring  wyde  ; 
18S     Sir  King,  lost  is  all  thy  pride, 
and  all  thy  deeds  is  shcnt,* 
when  thou  sendest  a  child 
thai  is  wittlease  A  wild. 
Its         to  dealo  doughtilie  with  dint ! 
thou  hast  Kntghin  of  micklu  maine, 
8ir  Perciuall  d  Sir  Gawaino, 
ffall  wise  in  Tumament.** 
IM     tho*  the  dwarffe  with  great  error* 
went  vnto  King  Arthur, 
&  said,  '*  Sir  I  verament 

••  this  child  to  be  a  warryour, 

100     or  to  doe  such  a  Labor, 

itt  is  not  worth  one  ffarthing  ! 
or  *  hei*  thai  Ijiulye  may  B4H*, 
hee  shall  hane  liattt'lls  ^^  or  three 

104         tmlye  without  any  Leasingr  ; 


Maid  Rdln 


adlifnooto 
Aitbar 


ehUd 
toflfflii. 


vbm  Im  ham 
knlffbuUka 
Oawaliat  ac 


IHrarf 


rliil<l  tea  I 

wvrtlift 
fariliiiHr. 
H*  II  bar*  to 
Airtil  flv* 

rrarrhlnn 
Mnailuo*  i 


'  arr  •hrfit,  1. 1.  ditfractd.— I*. 
»  tlM«i.-r. 


■  fjrroHr  n>unM>,  nionili|(.      llAlUvrll.     F. 
•  i,«.  Ufonr.—  1*. 


424 


UBICS  DISCOXIU;^ 


the  firt  at 
the  Briilge 
of  I'crili'. 


Lylilnn  Mja 
b«'«  not 
afraid; 


(C 


he  can 
llgbt. 


aiid  will 
never  give 
in :  luch  U 
Artliur'fl 
law. 


llollen 
unrtTB  at 
L>biUri, 


and  Tcjrldc- 
Ivni*  t4.-llii 
liini 


to  fri)  and 
niick  Ills 
mammy. 


Arthur  Fays 
"  By  (Jod 
you  Hhall 
have  notx>dy 
else." 


att  the  bridge  of  perill 
beside  tbe  aduentnrons  cbappell, 

there  is  the  ffirst  begining." 
208     Sir  Ljbins  anon  answered 
&,  said,  "  I  was  nener  affeard 

ffor  no  mans  threatninge ! 

''  somewhat  bane  I  lerd  ^ 
212     ffor  to  play  with  a  swerd 

there  men  hath  beene  slowe.' 
the  man  that  ffleethe  ffor  a  threat 
other  '  by  way  or  by  streete, 
216        I  wold  he  were  to-draw. 
I  will  the  battcll  vndertake ; 
I  no  will  nener  fforsake, 
ffor  such  is  Arthurs  Lawe." 
220    the  made  ^  answered  alsoe  snell,* 
&  said,  "  thai  beseemeth  thee  well ! 
who-soe  looketh  on  thee  may  know 

"  thon  ne  dnrst  for  thy  berde 
224     abyid  •  the  wind  of  my  ^  swerde, 
by  ought  thai  I  can  see  ! " 
then  said  thai  dwarffe  in  that  stond, 
"  dead  men  that  lyen  on  the  ground, 
228         of  thee  affrayd  may  bee ; 
but  betwcene  emest  h  game, 
I  counsell  thee  goe  souke  *  thy  dame, 
&,  winno  there  the  degree." 
232     the  K:ing  answered  anon-right^ 

and  said,  '*  thou  gettest  noe  other  'Knight^ 
by  god  that  sitteth  in  Trinyfye ! 


'  lorcd,  i.e.  learned,  see  Ch.  Gl. — P. 

'  Wher<! — havp  l)ecn  8law,  Qu. — P. 

■  i.e.  either.  So  they  still  speak  in 
Shropshire. — P.  Or  is  the  contraction 
of  other. — F. 

«  The  Maid.— P. 

•  snel,    i.e.    presently,    immediately. 


sAe  Gl.  ad  Cb. — P.  Al  6oe  w  alsoe  t 
MS.— F. 

•  ttbyde.— P. 

'  perhaps  any :  or  perhaps  she  taunt 
him,  as  not  a  Match  for  a  Woman. — ^P. 

'  souke,  i.e.  suck,  Chaue. — ^P. 


LIBICS   DUlCONira. 


425 


If  thoa  thinko  ho  bee  not  wigbt, 
236     Goo  *  and  gett  thee  another  Knight    [PNr>m] 
thai  in  of  more  power." 
the  maid  ffor  ire  still  did  thinke,' 
Hhce  wold  neither  eate  nor  d[r]inke 
S40         ffbr  all  thai  there  were ; 
fihee  sate  still,  without  fiable, 
till  they  had  mconered  the  table, 
she  and  the  dwarfie  in  fibre. 
S44     KiH4j  Arthur  in  thai  stond 
comandod  of  the  table  round, 
4  knights  in  fibre, 

of  the  best  thai  might  be  found 
S43     in  armes  hole  '  &  sound, 

to  arme  thai  child  ffull  right ; 
A  said  ^*  through  the  might  o  Christ 
thtii  in  fflomo  ^  lordan  was  baptiste, 
tit         ho  shold  doe  thai  he  bight,* 
d  become  a  Champyon 
to  the  Ijadjr  of  Sinadon, 

&  fibll  her  ffbcmen  in  flight.** 
256     to  anno  him  thcjr  were  ffaine,* 
8«*r  Pcrciuall  &  Sir  Gawaine, 
&  arrajcd  him  like  a  knight ; 


HrileBfiti 

won't  tml  or 

driDk 

■oytlilBff* 


norwmtiM 
dvmrf. 

Arthiir 


hbfonr  b«i 
knlflkUlo 


mnn  LjrUiM, 


MlMlldo 
whAtbe 

AndtetlM 

tUtuHAone** 
champioii. 


mrmnl  by 
Uawaloe, 


the  'i^  was  S/r  Agrauaine/ 
260     A  the  4*^  was  Sir  Kwaino,' 


AjrniTAine, 
anJBwalne; 


•  Th-  M**  'uri  tn  tlio  O  in  like  «•.  -F. 

*  T\.^    Kiwh    U'>m4i}<v«    mtkf^    h«T 


I  •   n  -F 
'  K  T.  r 


It4l.  fluriir.       p. 
••     I  r.v;  s^l.  rn^*^"4.       I*. 
vl         I* 

•  •   th^  aA.t^  «m  him  in  t*4.  i.  p.  14.>, 


-r 


tvn  vm»   th«*  fwio  of 
T'li'iT  «  •t«Cc>r,  Mv»r^n  le  Far,  aud  b*l 

%«'L.  II.  r  r 


a  la<l  opinion  of  bin  m<i(her:  "'  .\/  Mvil 
••vr  t'w.ivri.  *  men  Mith  that  Merlrn  was 
t«v<»ton  of  a  «l«*uvllr,  hut  I  mav  kavo  nn 
rrthtlv  tlfurllr  Inrr  ro»*."*  Thii  wn« 
%ih«*n  )ic  ntupi  ••  my  liuir  "  hi«  **  mmlrr  ** 
fr«»in  kiiiiiii;  '*  t\w  kyn^j*^  '  Vrrvn*.  hi< 
**  f4«li  r.  *lt  pyn;:»*  in  hi«  >»e»l.**  (*.tjr.'N'# 
Multur  I  p.'lo;.  Thr  (%»iion  MS  h4«  . 
The    ►%r|"    w.-\»    i^r    Kwyn.    [Owryn. 

!h']ow| 
Th«  f'  rhi«'  *•%••  •yr  a^jirafmiTi, 
Sv  »<N>»  h*  Frrniajli/  talo.—  F. 


426 


LIBIUS   DISCONIDS. 


ift  oIikI  in 
nilk, 


264 


them  right  ffor  to  behold, 
they  cast  on  him  right  good  silke, 
a  sercote  as  white  as  anj  ^  milko 

thai  was  worth  20,  of  golde ; 


and  ha9  a 
hauU'rk. 


Gawaino 


firivcfl  him  I 
Hhield 
and  helm. 


FcTx:ivaI  pnU 
on  hid 
crown  ; 
AiTTHvainc 
brinf^  Iiim 
appear, 


and  Ewainc 
a  i^tecd. 


Lybius 
uiouuU, 


atJcfl 


alsoo  an  hawberke  ffaire  &  bright, 
-which,  was  ffuU  richelye  dight 
with  nayles  good  and  ffine. 
2G8     S/r  Grawaine,  his  owne  fiatheri 
hange  about  his  necke  there 

a  sheeld  w/th  a  griffon,' 
&  a  helme  that  was  ffnll  rich, 
272     in  all  the  Land  there  was  none  snch. 
S^r  Pcrcinall  sett  on  his  crowne, 
Sir  Agraoaine  brought  him  a  speare 
that  was  good  euery  where 
276         A;  of  a  ffell  ffashion. 

Sir  Ewaine  brought  him  a  stejdo 
that  was  good  in  euery  neede, 
&  as  ffeirce  as  any  Lyon.' 
280     Sir  Lybyus  on  his  steede  gan  springe, 
&  rode  fforth  vnto  the  King, 
&  said,  '*  Lord  of  renowne ! 


Arthnr'B 
blttuing  ; 


Arthur 
gives  it  him, 


and  hopes 
Qod 


"  giue  mc  yot^r  blessinge 

284     without  any  Letting  ! 

my  will  is  fforth  me  to  wend.'* 
the  King  his  hand  ypp  did  liffl^ 
&  his  blessing  to  him  gaue  right 

2S8         as  a  Knight  curteour^  &  hende, 
&  said,  "  god  that  is  of  might, 
&  his  mother  Marry  bright. 


'  One  stroke  too  few  in  the  MS. — ^F. 
*  griffyne,  qu. — P. 

■  The  French   Romance   only  makes 
Gawnin   ordiT   Lybiua's  armour   to  be 


brought,  and  Oawain  give  him  a  aqa: 
"Robers:  moult  esteit  aagM  et  tpex 
p.  11.— F. 

*  ?./br  curteous. — ^F. 


UBIUS  DUSC0NIC8. 


427 


thai  in  fflowre  of  all  women, 
i9t     giae  thco  gracco  flbr  to  gone 

ffor  to  gott  the  ouerhand  of  thy  fonc, 
A  speed  thee  in  thy  ionmcj !  Amen  !  " 


wtnfrmat 
bim  frar*  to 
eonqncr  hia 


29« 


[The  Second  Part] 


r'cf  • 


300 


904 


iM'r  LjbtoB  now  rideth  on  hU  way, 
d  Hoo  did  thai  flairc  may, 

the  dwarfTe  aUoo  rode  them  beside, 
till  itt  beffell  vpon  the  3f  day 
Tpon  the  Knitjht  all  the  way 

ffaat  they  gan  to  chide, 
A  said,  ''  Lorell  i  and  Caitiae  ! 
tho  thow  were  such  ffiae, 

Loat  is  all  thy  pride  ! 
Ttiiji  way  keepeth  a  Knight 
Mat  With  euery  man  will  ffight, 
his  name  springeth  wydc  ; 


LjMoA 

HrUcvaad 
tbrdwwf. 


**  his  name  is  WiV/iVrm  de  la  Brannche,' 
a<i6     hix  warn.*?!  may  ncM}  man  staanchis' 
hv  U  a  warn'our  cif  jfreat  [iride  ; 
I)«>th  through  hart  A  lianch 
swithc**  lice  will  thiM*  liaanchi*, 
Mt         all  th*ii  to  him  ridt»s."  * 
th(*n  said  S/r  Lybias, 
**  I  will  not  I^tt  this  nor  thus 
to  play  With  him  a  fiitt  ! 
lie     (Tor  any  thing  thui  may  betide, 
I  will  airainiit  him  ryde 

t4>  liH>ke  if /A<it  ht*  can  sitt !  ** 


[pmgrtn] 


Mr  WIIIlMi 
bnaacht, 


wilt  tntm 
9iir-^r  him 
i(<r>j<iirb. 

L;  t4o«  Mf  • 


wtiAttf^vr 
rvir  ml  him. 


l.y        V  •  •♦••I',  •t.iv,  rt»i«t.      I*. 

*   Hi..«-Aiti  <Mrhnn»'h»-   «l»Af   41   K  )  •  ^--ti       I*. 

vr«    «t^l  viIUaiu  •ckbr»iiiKb4>.  L  Zi'i,  *  atxl  ^11  riot — rtdc,  <}«.-  !*■ 

r  r  i 


428 


LIBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


Near  the 
Advcncuzx>iu 
Chapel 
ttacy  8oe  a 
knight 
on  the 
Bridge  of 
Peril, 


well  armed. 


th6  rode  on  then  all  3 : 
320     vpon  a  ffaire  Causye. 

beside  the  aducnturous  chappell  * 
a  knight  anon  they  can  see 
with  armes  bright  of  blee, 
324         vpon  the  bridge  *  of  perrill. 
he  bare  a  sheeld  all  of  greeno 
with  3  Lyons  of  gold  shecne, 
right  rich  and  prccyons. 
328    weU  armed  '  was  tJiai  Knight 
as  he  shold  goe  to  ffight, 
as  itt  was  his  vse.^ 


Ttie  knight 
telln  LybluB 


be  mnst 
flght  or 
loarc  his 
hamcw 
there. 

Lybias 

begR  leave  to 
pais. 


when  ho  saw  Sir  Lybius  with  sight, 
332     anon  he  went  to  him  arright, 
&  said  to  him  there, 
"  who  passeth  here  by  day  or  nighty 
certer  *  with  me  must  ffight, 
336        or  leane  his  hamesse  here." 
then  answered  Sir  Libyus 
&  said,  "  fibr  the  lone  of  lesus 
lett  V8  passe  now  here  ! 
340    wee  be  ffarr  ffroe  our  ffreind, 
&  haue  ffarr  ffor  to  wend, 
T  and  this  mayden  in  fere.*  " 


Sir  William 
rcfiiscH,  and 
says 


he  muM 
fight  him. 


Sir  WiUiam  answered  thoe 
344     &  said,  "  thou  shalt  not  scape  soe  ! 
soe  god  giue  me  good  rest, 
thow  &  I  will,  or  wee  goe, 
deale  stroakes  betweene  vs  tow 
348         a  litlo  here  by  west." 


*  Rvght  to  chapcll  Auntours. — Lam- 
beth MS.     Be  a  castellf  aunterous. — C. 

«  Fr.  le  Gui  Philleus.—Y.  Poynt 
pen'lous. — Lambeth  MS.    vale  perylous. 

»  anied  in  the  MS.— F. 


The  French  adds,  p.  13.  L  330>3 
Maint  cheralier  Font  trouT^  dare 
Que  il  avoit  ocis  al  goA ; 
Moult  ^toit  plaina  de  cmanti, 
BuoBLiiais  aToit  non. 
certes.— P.  •  together.- 


UBirs  DiscoNirs. 

KiV  Lib  JUS  Miyd,  **  now  I  see 
ihai  itt  will  none  other  bee ; 
goe  fibrth  and  doo  thy  best ; 
ass     take  thj  coarse  with  thj  shaffl 
if  thou  can  *  well  t)ij  craffl, 
ffor  I  ame  here  all  prest.*** 

then  noe  longer  they  wold  abyde, 
356     but  the  one  to  the  other  gan  ryde 
With  great t  randaan.' 
Sir  Libyns  there  in  *  that  tyde 
smote  Sir  williVim  on  his  side 
360         With  a  speare  fielon  *  ; 

bot  Sir  williVim  sate  soe  flfast 
thai  his  stirropps  all  to-brast^ 
he  leaned  on  his  arsowne  ; 

364  Sir  Lybins  made  him  stoope, 

he  smote  him  over  the  horse  croape 
in  the  fieeld  a-downe  ; 

his  horsse  ran  ffrom  him  away. 

365  Sir  will  III  m  not  long  liay, 

but  start  anim  vpri^ht, 
and  said,  **  Sir,  by  my- in  flay, 
neuer  lH'fl*on»  this  day 
37t  I  fl\»und  none  wx*  wight  ! 

now  in  my  honwe  gone  away  ! 
flight  on  ^fiH»l  .*  I  thcH?  pray, 
as  thou  art  a  Kni'jhi  worthye.** 
376     then  sayd  Sir  Lybius, 

**  bv  the  leaue  of  Sweete  Ic^us 
therto  ffiill  ready  I  am.^  *' 


429 

LyMiuii^ys 


•wmjl 


They 


Lrbioft  bite 
BirWUllMB 
ontlMiiite, 


drlTMhla 


and  (romda 


Sir  WmiMi 
op 


Mkil  Mks 

Ljbtiwto 

Sfbloafbot. 


•  r    r»«.!r  -    P 

-.•^    Ki:rfht  «»r  MoCioti  of  anY  thing. 

•  MS  th«mn.     ¥ 


•  /r/.  />/o«,  Jelomm,  vick«l.  slfo  ctimI, 

•  <.n    (foot)    1   Ac— P.     a    foU.— C 
oo  foc**  — I^m, 

'  *ml  -  P. 


430  UUCB  DIBCOSirSL 

iben  together  tliej  went  as  tyte,' 
S8o    &  wt'th  their  ewords  they  gan  smite ; 
thej  ffonght  wonderons  Longe ; 
strcMikes  tc^ether  they  ktt  fflinge  [pg 

(iot  they  Ifya:  oat  gan  springe 
ftrom.  of  their  hehnes  strong, 
bat  S«r  wiDiom  de*  la  brannche 
to  Sir  Lybios  gan  he  laanche, 
«c  m  &  smote  on  his  sheild  soe  ffiist 

3S8     flat  one  cantell '  ffeU  to  the  gronnd  ; 


&  Sir  Lybios  att  that  sonde  ^ 
in  his  hart  was  agast. 

then  Sir  Lybios  with  all  his  might 
defended  him  anon-right, 

was  *  warryoor  wight  &  slye ; 
^ x^  coyfe*  &  crest  downe  right, 

^^^  he  made  to  ffly  with  great  might, 

of  Sir  Williams  helme  on  hye ; 
&  with  the  point  of  his  sword 
2  lut  he  cot  of  Str  willuims  berd, 

and  tooched  him  ffoll  nve. 
&rw:2i»a*#  400     SiV  Willuim  smote  S/r  Lybios  thoe 


ft 


«  rwt> ;  T 1^  f)^^ji  Y^  sword  brast  in  tow 

*  that  many  men  might  see  with  eye. 

b*  ir«T»  f.^  then  S**r  Will /am  began  to  crye 

404     A  sayd,  *'  ffor  the  Lone  of  Manye, 
on  line  let  mee  weelde  ! 
itt  were  great  villanye 
ffor  to  make  a  Kwi'vAt  dye 
408         weponlesse  in  fhe  feeld." 

'  quioklv. — F.  koft.     The  second  seal  of  Henry 

•  MS.  do. — F.  presents  him  without  a  helmet,  the 

•  cantle,  a  Pie«',  a  part.  GL  Ch. — P.  of  mail  beiwr  drawn  over  a  st« 

•  Porhaj*    stouode,     time,    moment,  called  a  coit'-ijlr-fcr  in  contradisti: 
ppjiof*. — p.     Sonde  is  meissage. — F.  to  the  ckapclU-<ie-f(r  worn  over  the 

•  as«  qu.— P.     as, — C.  and  L.  Piancke,  i.  94.— F. 

•  <\Hf^e-/fr,  the  hood  of  mail  worn  hj  '  That  his,  &c. — P. 
knight*  in  the  twelfth  centuir.     Fair-  •  As  men,  &c. — P. 


LiBir8  Di8co5n:& 


431 


4IS 


then  spake  Sir  Ljbins 

A  Mjd,  **  bj  the  leane  of  lesns ! 

of  lifie  gettest  thoa  no  space ' 
but  if  thoa  wilt  sweare  anon, 
or  thou  ont  of  the  ffelld  gone, 

here  before  mj  fiaoe. 


Ljhim 


It 


'^  A  on  knees  kneele  downe, 
4 If     &  swere  by  mj  sword  browne 

that  thoa  shalt  to  Arthur  wend, 
&  saj,  '  Lord  of  great  renowne ! 
I  am  in  battell  oaerthrowne ; 
4S0        a  knight  me  hither  doth  send 
that  men  cleped  than, 
Sir  Ljbias  Disconinii, 

Tnknowen  kni^At  and  hend.' " 
4S4     Sir  wiUuim  mett '  him  on  his  knee ; 
A  the  othe  thore  made  hec, 
&  ffbrward  gan  he  wend. 


thaihm 
wwwmnWf 
lo  Arthar 


hui. 


airWUllMi 


thas  departed  all  the  rout. 
4S8     Sir  wiUiam  to  Arthurs  court 
he  tooke  the  really  way  ;  * 
a  sorry  case  there  gun  flail : 
3  knights  *  prondc  and  tali 
4dS         Sir  willf'<im  mctt  thai  day; 
tlie  3  KfiiyAtH  all  in  fii're 
where  his  ernes  *  sonnes  decro, 
stout  they  were  and  gay. 


and  itaru 
for  Arthiu^ 
ouuru 


RbUirM 

CD«llllB« 

him. 


'  Y'  T  th^  orit  ftUna  aim!  ft  h*lf,  the 
'  r*thh  h**.  p.  IS: 

-  Kn»  *  U  c«»Tt  Artu  if  mi. 
A  lui  rn  irr«  «!r  |«r  moi.** 

*  Th*'  Kn>fM>h  R/KBAiK'r  •rwlii  him  bomr 
m  'ai>l'«l.  (iiU  him  to  t<nl,  aod  iht-rr  he 
w««  *h«-  thrrr  knight •.-    K. 

*  Tb«  Frrwh  m*kM  th«fu  onU  lit« 


**  cf>mpai|nK>n«,*'  and  him  their  **  ugDor." 

Thrir  njim«-«i  «rr : 

fUiu*  li  t»lAoa.  tirM  dr*  Ai««, 
Va.  li  NiQft  chrTali(*ni  dr  (}nu«« 
Va  WilUumr  d«*  Sa)(*l*nu)t. 
'  emf,  Trirlf.      JW  Jan.   taimt,     fV« 

01.   tu\  ChAuc.   ^c. '  v.     A.-M«z.  r^M. 


432 


UBIU8   DISCOKIUS. 


436 


•nd  aak  him 
who  ha« 
wooaded 


DiKxmin*, 


ftnd  be  has 
made  dm 

•1 


not  to  stop 
till  I  get  to 
Arthur's 
court. 


and  never  to 
bear  armti 
again !« 
him." 


His  coQjtins 
promiae  to 
avenge  him: 


Lybios  ign^t 
worth  a  flea; 


440 


444 


448 


452 


456 


460 


464 


468 


when  they  saw  Sir  wOltam  bleed, 
&  alwaj  hanged  downe  his  head, 
they  rode  to  him  wtth  great  array, 

&  said,  *'  Cozen  will ! 

who  hath  done  to  yon  this  shame  ? 

&  why  bleedest  thon  soe  long  ?  " 
hee  said,  "  Sirs,  by  St.  lame ! 
one  that  is  not  to  blame  ; 

a  stont  Kjiight  &  a  stronge — 

Sir  Lybius  disconius  hee  hight 

to  fiell  his  enemyes  in  ffight ; 

he  is  not  ffarr  to  Leame ; 
a  dwarfe  rydeth  with  him  in  fere 
as  he  was  his  Sqnier ; 

they  ride  away  finll  yame.^ 

"  but  one  thing  grecneth  me  sore, 
that  he  hath  made  me  sweare 

on  his  sord  soe  bright, 
that  I  shold  nener  more, 
till  I  come  to  lK.ing  Arthnr, 

Stint  by  day  nor  night ; 
and  alsoe  to  him  I  ame  yeelde 
as  one?x;ome  into  the  ffeelde 

by  power  of  his  might ; 
nor  against  him  ffor  to  beare 
neither  sheeld  nor  speare ; 

thus  I  haue  him  hight." 

then  said  the  Kw  ights  3  : 

"  well  anenged  shalt  thou  bee 

certes  wtthont  ffayle ! 
ffor  hee  one  against  vs  3, 
hee  is  not  worthe  a  fflee 

ffor  to  hold  battell  ^  ! 


'  yeme,  inter  al.  nimble,  Ch.  GL — P. 


[page 


battayle. — P. 


LIBIU8   DI8CONIC8. 


433 


47S 


poo  fforth  A  keepc  thino  otho 
ihotttjh  thou  be  neuer  «oe  wroth; 

wco  will  him  aaRayle. 
or  he  this  fibrrest  pasao, 
woe  will  his  armour  vnlace, 

tho  itt  were  double  maile.*' 


unlace  hl« 
•mioar. 


therofi*  wifft  nothing  thai  wight 
476     Sir  Ljbius,  thai  gentle  Knujhi^ 
but  rode  a  well  good  pace ; 
he  &  that  maiden  bright 
made  together  thai  night 
460         game  A  great  solace, 
•hce  cryed  him  mercje 
flbr  shee  had  spoken  him  rilUnye ; 
shoe  prayed  him  to  fforgiue  her  that  ijde ; 
4M     the  dwarffe  was  their  squier, 
&  8cmc<!  them  both  in  flTcro 
off  all  M<it  thej  had  need* 


LjMw 


vtthfldka. 


for 


on  the  morrow  when  itt  was  day, 
4S*»     (Tort  he  the  ro<le  on  their  way 
towards  Sinadowne. 
then  they  **ay  *  in  their  way 
3  Km  1*^/4 ts  stout  and  $ray 
49a         cam€»  rj'ding  ffn>m  Caerle<>n  ; 
to  him  they  nayd  anon-riifht,' 
*'  Traitor,  tume  againc  and  (Tight  I 
thou  slialt  hm*  thy  renowne  ! 
49€     A.  thitl  maide  flkire  k  bright, 
wet*  will  her  leail  att  night 
herby  vnto  a  towne." 


Krst  «!•/ 


ikmxhnm 


*fwl  rmll  oil 


ttr  th«-  y,  «r  an  '  •ftT  it.-    F. 
ILp  Krrfkrb  p«U  th«(U;hi  witbtLc** 


ihr*^  kuiirh?*  (ft.  34)  mfirr  thai  with  thr 
t«o  (pjiuta  fy.  23).      F. 


434 


UBIUS  DISC01IIU8 


LybituU 
ready, 


chaxgos 
theddeet, 

8ir  Baner, 


and  breaks 
hU  thigh  in 
two. 


Dwarf 
Teddelyne 
rides  Baner's 
horn 


toHellen, 


and  she  mys 
Lybius  is  a 
good 
champion. 


Sir  Lybins  to  them  gan  crye, 
500     "  ffor  to  ffight  I  am  all  readje 
against  yon  all  in-same.'  " 
a  *  prince  pronde  of  pride, 
lie  rode  against  them  that  tyde 
504        With  mirth  sport  and  game, 
the  Eldest  brother  then  beere 
to  Str  Lybins  with  a  Spere, 
Sir  Bancr  was  his  name.' 
508     Sir  Lybins  rode  att  him  anon 
&  brake  in  tow  his  thigh  bone, 
&  lett  him  Lye  there  lame.^ 

the  'Knight  mercy  gan  ciye 
512     when  Sir  Lybins  certainely 
had  smitten  him  downe. 
the  dwarffe  that  hight  Teodline 
tooke  his  horsse  by  the  raine, 
516        he  lept  into  the  arsoone  ^ ; 
he  rode  anon  with  that 
vnto  the  mayd  where  shee  sate 
soe  ffayre  of  ffashyon. 
520     then  langhed  that  Maiden  bright, 

&  said,  "  fforssooth  this  young  Elnight 
is  a  ffnll  good  Champyon !  *'. 


*  i.  e.  all  together ;  it  seems  a  contrac- 
tion of  the  Fr.  ensemble.  See  G.D.  Gl. 
afsame,  sub.  verb,  same. — P. 

•  As,  q. — Pencil  note, 

■  Willaumes  vint  k  lui  premiers,  1. 
1062,  p.  38.  The  French  Rom.  remarks 
on  the  knights  attacking  singly,  in  the 
good  old  times,  as  contrasted  with  the 
cowardice  of  the  then  modem  ones : 

Et  4  eel  tens,  costume  estoit 
Que  quant  i  horn  se  combatoit, 
N'avait  garde  que  de  celui 
Qui  faisoit  la  bataille  a  lui. 
Or  va  li  tens  en  febloiant 
Et  cis  usiiges  decaans, 
Que  XX  et  V  en  prendent  un ! 
Cis  af aires  est  si  commun . 


Que  tuit  le  tienent  desorm^ ; 
La  force  fait  le  plus  adi^, 
Tos  est  mu^s  en  autre  guise, 
Mais  dont  estoit  fois  et  frandse, 
Piti^,  proesse  et  cortoisie, 
Et  largesse  sans  vilonnie. 
Or  fait  cascuns  tot  son  pooir, 
Tos  entendent  au  deceToir.  (p.  3 

*  The    French    makes    Lybius 
Willaume  (or  Sir  Baner)  : 

Mort  le  trebuce  del  ceval. 

n  ne  li  fera  huimais  mal !  (p. ' 
Then  Helin  de  Graies  attacks  Ly 
and  gets  his  right  arm  broken. — ^F. 

*  Fr.  Ar^on,  a  saddle  boWy  Per  M 
Saddle.^F. 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


435 


*  tlie  21  brother,  he  beheld 
624     how  is  brother  lay  in  the  ffeild 
<&  had  lost  strenght  &  might ; 
he  smote  Sir  Lybins  in  that  tyde 
on  the  sheeld  with  mnch  pride, 
528         with  his  speare  ffull  right. 
Sir  Ljbiiis  away  gan  beare 
wzth  his  good  speare 
the  helme  of  that  knight. 
532     the  youngest  brother  ^  then  gan  ride, 
&  hitt  Sir  Lybios  in  tJiat  tyde 
as  a  man  of  much  might, 


The  second 
coosm 


charfgea 
Lybioa. 

Ljbios 
nnhelma 
[page  326]    him. 


The  third 
coosin 


&  said  to  him  then  anon, 
63  o     "  Sir,  thou  art  by  St.  lohn 
a  ffell  Champyowne ; 
by  god  that  sitteth  in  trinitye, 
ffight  I  will  With  thee, 
640        I  hope  to  beare  thee  downe."  * 
as  warryour  out  of  witt, 
on  Sir  Lybius  then  hee  hitt 
with  a  flfell  ffauchyon  ; 
644     soe  stifiBye  his  stroakes  hee  sett, 
that  through  helme  '  &  basenett  * 
he  earned  Sir  Lybius  crowne. 


says  he 
should 


lilce  to  fight 
Lybios, 


and  cuts 
through 


his  holm  and 
basdnet 
into  his 
head. 


S/r  Lybius  was  served  in  that  stead 
648     when  hee  fielled  ^  on  his  head 

that  the  sword  had  drawen  blood ; 


Lybius 


-»  )>e  myddellf  brojvr  com  jeme 
Vp-on  a  stede  steme 

Egre  as  lyotin. 
H^-m  ^^  nys  body  wold«  beme 
But  he  my^t  al  so  ^eme 

Fell*  lybeaus  a-doun. — C. 
Sir  Qramadone,   the    French  calls 
1,  1.  1122,  p.  40.— F. 
hehnet  or  head-piece,  Fr.  D?  Galea, 


*  Bcucinety  a  light  helmet,  shaped 
like  a  skull-cap,  worn  with  or  without  a 
moveable  front.    FairhoU. — F. 

»  felt— P.    The  Lambeth  MS.  reads : 
Tho  wax  Lybeous  a-greued 
When  he  felt  on  his  hed. 
The  Cotton  has : 

Tho  was  ly-beaus  agreede 
Whan  he  felde  on  hedde. — F. 


436 


UBIUS  DISCOK1U& 


svocd* 


«ij*tvo 


(tbe 
ODQfin 


joiDed  in 


about  his  head  the  sword  he  waued, — 
all  thai  hee  hitt,  fibrsoothe  hee  cleened, 
55S         as  warryonr  wight  and  good ; — 
Sir  Ljbins  said  swithe  thoe, 
"  one  to  ffight  against  2 
is  nothing  good.** 
656     ffast  they  hewed  then  on  him 
with  stroakes  great  and  grim ; 
against  ^  them  he  stiffl je  stood. 


■Bd  cat*  off 
cowiB** 


The  third 
cooaiB 


rield» 
LyUa 


to 


and  cries 
for  mcTcj. 


*  &  through  gods  grace 
560    he  smote  the  eldest  in  that  place 
ypon  the  right  arme  thoe ; 
hee  hitt  him  soe  in  thai  place, — 
to  see  itt  was  a  wonderous  case, — 
564         his  right  arme  fiell  him  ffix)e.^ 
the  youngest  saw  thai  sight, 
&  thought  hee  had  noe  mieht 
to  ffight  against  his  fibe ; 
568     to  Sir  Lybius  hee  did  vp-yeeld 
his  good  Speare  &  sheeld  ; 
mercy  he  ciyed  him  thoe.' 


Lvbitui 
grants  it 


on  condition 
that  be  and 
hi#  two 
brothers 
gotoArthor, 


anon  Sir  Lybius  said,  "  nay, 
572     thou  shalt  not  passe  this  away — 
by  him  that  bought  mankind — 

but  thou  &  thy  brethren  twayne 

plight  yowr  trothes  wi'thout  Layine 
576         thai  yee  will  to  King  Arthur  wende, 

<fc  say,  *  Lord  of  great  renowne  ! 

in  battaill  wee  be  ouercome ; 


>  'gainst— P. 

*— '  The  Cotton  text  omits  these  lines, 
and  in  the  next  ones  makes  both  brothers 
yield  to  Lybitis. — F. 

*  The  French  makes  the  battle  with 


the  third  knight  last  all  night  til 
dav ;  then  the  horse  of  Sir  Gramadc 
Aies  slips  and  falls,  Lybius  seii 
prostrate  rider,  and  he  is  oblij 
yield,  p.  41-2.— F. 


UBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


437 


a  Knight  vs  hither  hath  send 
580    ffor  to  yeeld  thee  tower  &  towuno, 
&  to  bee  att  thy  bandowne  * 
enermore  withonten  end/ 


and  give  np 
their  aU  to 
him. 


"  &  but  if  you  will  doe  soe, 
584     certes  I  will  you  sloe 

as  I  am  true  Knight." 
anon  they  sware  to  him  thoe  ; 
that  they  wold  to  Arthur  goe, 
688         their  trothes  anon  th6  plight. 
Sir  Lybius  &  that  ffaire  May 
rode  fforth  on  the  way 
thither  as  they  had  hight ; 
692     tm  itt  beffeU  on  the  3^  day 

the  ffell  together  in  game  &  pley, 
hee  and  that  Maiden  bright. 


They  swear 
to  do  this, 


and  Lyhios 
rides  on  with 
Hellen. 


On  the  third 
day 


they  rode  fforthe  on  west 
596     into  a  wyde  fforrest, 

&  might  come  to  noe  towne ; 
th^  ne  wist  what  way  best, 
ffor  there  they  must  needs  rest, 
600         &  there  they  light  a-downe. 
amonge  the  greene  eues  * 
they  made  a  lodge  with  bower  &  leaues, 
with  swords  bright  and  browne. 
604     Sir  Lybius  &  that  maiden  bright      [page  336] 
dwelled  there  all  night,* 

that  was  soe  ffaire  of  ffashyon. 


they  are 
benighted  in 
a  forest 


and  camp 
oat. 


Fr.  bandoQ,  "  A  son  bandon,"  i.  e.  at 

rill  and  Pleasure.    Gl.  G.  Doug. — P. 

eavos.  Metaph.  from  a  hou«»e  build- 

-P. 

The  French  picture  is  prettier: 


Li  Desconn^us  se  dormoit 

Sur  I'erbe  fresce  i  reposoit ; 

Dal^s  lui  gist  la  damois^le, 

Deseur  son  brae  gist  la  pue^le ; 

Li  uns  dal^  Tautre  dormoit, 

Li  lousignols  aor  eU  cantoit,  (p.  23.) 


«»    flbrnoe 


began  to  wake, 

with  gaile; 
inre  ke  begva  to  quake ; 


iLt         firoiir  tkoB  bat  a  mDe. 

-^ar^e,*'  be  awL  <*  wvthj  Kiti^it ! 
CO  bisae  ft&in  vce  were  digbt 
llbr«iodb«  of  nore  perill ! 
<l«    ceraas  I  bme  m  greas  boet ' ; 
a^Aw  I  sneO  a  saTor  of  rost, 
bTgodJkbyS^Gjle!'' 


::nitoi£  S^fKt 


<»« 


*2* 


[The  Tliird  Pirt] 

iS<jr  Ljbcixs  wms  stoat  &  gay, 

«fc  leapt  Tpod  bis  paUBrer, 
Jc  Cixike  bb  sbeeld  &  speare 
'^^  «fr  nxie  iKwtb  ffoB  ffiiist. 

±  g^aixts  bee  lloand  at  Last, 
l^     [^lifcaks'*  strong  ^  stout  were. 
Tbe  one  wibs  b£i«i^e  as  anv  sole  * 
wirf  otber  as  red  as  ffrenre  cole, 

i  ff-MiLe  K?tfce  ibev  were, 
xhie  bl;^''ke  GTaac  beM  in  kis  *  anne 
a  fiiin?  majvi  bj  the  banne,* 

brarfc.^  as  rose  on  binnir* : 


rxa 

— F 

t  Wi.:.— P. 


icti. 


ttlti.    ciir«»»    dirt. 

A3id  Ml  '.''^>!^  J'WArt  »$  pivbtf, 

X  BauiT<i<  T-ciepte  ra  hr*  anne. 
Ai  brri  &s  bki^  oq  bf«re. — F. 


»  kx*  ia  th^  MS.  with  a  d? 
Tbe  French,  i* : 

C;ir  1X115  gai^iZLs  moult  Li  presto:' 
A  ^.^^ve  bau<ier  I^*  Toloit, 
Mtis  cele  oe  1'  pooit  so-iitrtr, 
3iais  *e  rv^Ioit  Liissier  morlr. 

*  Sinus,  ertmitim. — P.  A--S.  ' 
the  womb,  lip.  K><onx.  Bofnrcrtl 
A  maTde  i-vlvpcvd  in  his  bance.— 

•  brerv^,  *o  m  Chauc. — P.  5r 
one  of  the  wv^^rd?  entered  ttndvr  <t\ 
LeTiiL5*<  M;uiipaIiL<  or  Khrmini!  Di 
arr,  p.  209,  coL  1.  ed.  1S67.— F. 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


439 


the  red  Gyant  ffull  yame 

632     swythe  about  can  tnrne 

a  wild  bore  on  a  spitt ; 

ffaire  the  ffyer  gan  heme. 

the  maid  cryed  ffall  yeme, 

636         for  men  ahold  itt  vritt ; 

shee  said,  '*  alas  &  euer  away 
that  euer  I  abode  this  day 
wtth  2  devills  for  to  sitt ! 
640     helpe,  Mary  that  is  soe  mild, 
for  the  lone  of  the '  child, 
tJiat  I  be  not  fforgett !  " 

SIt  Lybius  said,  '*  by  S*  lame ! 
644     ffor  ^  to  bring  that  maid  ffrom  shame 
itt  were  ffuU  great  price ; 
but  ffor  to  fight  w^th  both  in  shame  ' 
it  is  no  childs  game, 
648         they  be  soe  grim  and  grise.^  " 
he  tooke  his  course  with  his  shaft 
as  a  man  that  cold  his  craffb, 
&  he  rode  by  right  assise : 
652     the  blacke  he  smote  all  soe  smart 
through  the  liuer,  long  *  &  hart 
that  he  might  neuer  rise. 

then  ffled  that  maiden  sheene, 
656     &  thanked  ^  Marye,  heauens  queene, 
that  succour  had  her  sent. 

then  came  mayd  Ellen 

&  the  dwarffe  by-dene,^ 
660         &  by  the  hand  her  hent, 


a  red  one 


roasting  a 
boar  on  a 
spit. 

The  maid 
cries  oQt 


for  help. 


Lybius  says 


it's  Doohild's 
play  to  fight 
both  giants, 


bnt  he 
charges  the 
black  one, 

and  runs 
him  right 
through  Ihc 
heart. 


The  maid 
flees; 


Hellen  takes 
her 


'  perhaps  thy. — P. 

«  for.— P.     qu.  MS.  ffea,— F. 

'  in  same,  i.  e.  together,  ensemble,  Fr. 

P. 

*  id.  ac  grisly,  horrid,  horrible. — P. 

»  lung.— P. 


•  d  added  by  Percy. — ^F. 

'  MS.  ;•  &  by  the  dwarffe  dene,**  but 
the  tmesis  mnst  be  a  copier's  mistake. 
— F.  And  the  Dwarf  by-dene. — P. 
Sche  &  herf  dwerk  y-mene. — Cot. 


440 


LIBIUS   DISCONIOS. 


into  the 
forest. 


and  Bbe 

Erayifor 
ybiiu'a 
Mfety. 


The  red 
gUnt 
hiMat 
Lybioa  with 
tlMboar, 


and  knocks 

hiMhone 

down* 

Lybios 
flghts  with 
his  sword. 


The  giant 
lays  on 
Lybiiw  with 
hia  spit, 


covers  him 
with  boar's 
grease, 


&  went  into  the  greanes,i 

&  lodged  them  vnder  the  leaaes 

in  a  good  entent ; 
664     &  shee  besought  lesns^ 
ffor  to  helpe  Sir  Ljbias 

thai  hee  was  not  shent. 

the  red  Gyant  smote  there* 
668     att  Sir  Lybius  with  the  bore 

as  a  woolfe  that  were  woode ; 
his  Dints  he  sett  soe  sore, 
that  Sir  Lybius  horsse  therfore 
672         downe  to  the  ground  yode.* 
then  Sir  Lybius  with  ffeirce  hart, 
out  of  his  saddle  swythe  he  start 
as  spartle  *  doth  out  of  fyer ; 
676     feir[c]ely  as  any  Lyon 

he  ffought  wtth  his  ffawehyon 
to  quitt  the  Gyant  his  hyer. 

'  the  Gyants  spitt  sickerlye 
680     was  more  then  a  cowle  tree^ 
tJiat  he  rested  on  the  bore ; 
He  laid  on  Sir  Lybius  ffast, 
all  the  while  the  spitt  did  last, 
684         euer  more  and  more. 

the  bore  was  soe  hott  then, 

that  on  S/r  Lybius  the  grease  ran 


•  i.e.  Groves,  Bushes.  So  in  Chauc. 
—P. 

*  i.e.  there,  metri gratid.  so  in  Chauc. 
—P. 

■  went. — P.  The  French  makes  Lybius 
kill  the  other  giant  first : 

II  .  .  fiert  celui  premieremant 

Qui  esfor^oit  la  damoisele. 

8i  la  feru  l^s  la  mamiele. 

Le  fer  li  fist  el  cuer  serrer  ; 

Les  ioils  del  cief  li  fist  torbler ; 

Mort  le  trebuce  el  feu  ardant.  (p.  27.) 
The  Cotton  text  (leaf  46  back,  coL  2) 


follows  the  French : 

\>Q  blake  geaunt  he  smote  sm< 

J>orgh  the  lyurre,  longe,  &  he 

\>at  nouer  he  my3t^  arvse.— 

*  sparkle. — P.  s'parkjlL— L 
— \j. 

*  This  stanza  is  not  in  C.  or  ] 

*  ?  Phillipps's  coul'Staf'.  ' 
kind  of  Tub,  or  Vessel  with  tw< 
be  carry'd  between  two  Persor 
Co  ids  taffy  See  Lambarde's  1 
lation,  p.  367,  and  Stnitt,  ii.  * 
Halliwell,  under  CowUiaff, — F. 


LlBIUd   DUSCONIUlJi.  441 

right  ffjuit  thore.^ 
6i«s     the  gyant  was  stiflTe  &  strongc, 
15  fibotc  ho  was  Longe ; 
hoo  smote  Sir  Ljbias  ffull  sore.  JSiun'*" 

Kaer  still  the  gyant  smote 
693     att  Sir  Ljbins,  well  I  wott, 

till  the  spitt  brast  in  towe.  tiM^iit 

then  as  man /Aat  was  wrath,  Tbmhm  titu 

ffor  a  Tmnchyon  fibrth  he  goth 
€96         to  ffight  aga[i]nst  his  ffoe^ 

Si  With  the  End  of  (hut  spitt  mad  wfUu 

LybioB't 

Sir  Lybiiis  sword  *  in  3  he  hitt.  thteid  wisk 


'00 


u. 


then  was  Si'r  Ljbios  wonderoafl  woe. 
or  he  againe  his  stafie  vp  caagbt,  bat  &nm 

Sir  Lybios  a  stroke  him  ronght  L>MMc«ia 

.  off  hi«rifhft 

thai  his  right  arme  fiell  him  flfroe. 


UAt 

to  tb^ 


the  Gyant  fiell  to  the  ground, 
7o4     Sl  S/r  Lybios  in  thai  stond 

smote  of  his  head  thoe :  tbm  hu 

in  a  flrenc'h  booke  itt  is  flimnd.' 
to  the  other  he  went  in  that  Ktond,^ 
7oH         A  f<»nied  him  ripht  hoc. 
he  tooke  ^'p  the  headii  then 
A  liare  them  to  thai  fiaire  maiden 
//lift  he  had  woone  in  ffi^rht. 
:ii     the  maid  was  glad  &  blythe, 
dc  tliauki*«l  ^rod  oAen  nithe 

thai  eaer  he  wan  made  a  Knojhi, 

Sir  Lybios  ^ai*!,  **  genth*  dame, 
7l«     tell  me  Dow  wliat  in  your  name 

.  _  "  ii.  itf  >ni*.h  «od  Oj<tt>a  triiii.       rutTin^*  'iff  r,f  *}^  r»»h?  tm*    •  *.♦  rr-^k'* 

> 

*  *  -.r.i.     Ctji,     TL«  Frroch  hM  not      t«^.     F. 

1    'L     II.  A  «« 


Lt?.tU«     •{:.»      !L*     CLUifl     U**!     W    *J|M 


442 


LIBIU8   DISCONIUS. 


tbialMr 
tUlMrte 


Sir  ArtlMm, 

Mid  her 
name  Is 
ViotoL 


A  where  that  you  were  borne." 
"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  by  S?  lame, 
my  fiather  is  of  rich  fifame, 
780         &  dwelleth  here  befome ; 
he  is  a  Lord  of  much  might, 
an  Erie  &  a  Noble  Knight ; 
his  name  is  S[ir]  Arthore, 
724     &  my  name  is  Vylett,^ 
that  the  Gyant  had  besett 
for  the  Castle  ore. 


o«tt 


walktag 


wbcBthe 

giAHt^KMIC 


•Bd  would 


tUK^itlMt 

b6en  foe 
Lyblat. 
ChrUt 
reward  hlml 


"  as  I  went  on  my  demeaning  ' 
728     to-night  in  the  eaeni[n]ge, 
none  euill  then  I  thought ; 
the  gyant,  wi'th-out  leasing, 
out  of  bush  he  gan  spring, 
732         &  to  the  fiyer  me  brought, 
of  him  I  had  beene  shent, 
but  Mat  god  me  succour  sent 
that  all  this  world  hath  wrought. 
736     Sir  ISinight !  god  yeeld  thee  thy  meed, 
ffor  vs  that  on  the  roode  did  bleed, 
<fc  with  his  blood  vs  bought !  " 


They  ftll  ride 
to 


Without  any  more  talking 
740     to  their  horsses  they  gan  spring,' 


»  Vilett,  Violette.— P.  Vyolette.— Cot. 
The  French  g;iTe8  the  name  and  story 
differently : 

.  .  nomm^e  sni  Clarie  .  . 

Et  Saigremors  si  est  mes  fr&re, 

Li  jaians  me  prist  c6s  mon  p6re. 

£n  un  Tergier  hui  mais  entrai 

Et  per  moi  d^duire  i  alai. 

Li  jaians  ert  desous  I'entr^e, 

Trova  la  porio  desfrem6e  ; 

Huec  me  prist,  si  m'enporta, 

La  son  conpaignon  trova.  (p.  32.) — F. 

'  probably  ffoinff  a  walking^  demener, 


the  same  as  promener,  qn. — P. 
Yesterday  yn  the  momyng« 
Y  wente  on  my  pLivnfl;e. 

C«>t.  MS,  in  R 
*  The  French  text  makes  tb 
have  a  grand  feast  on  the  grass 
giants' food.  Squire /?oVr« distil 
hirnsolf  as  cook,  seneschal,  butL 
shal,  chamberlain,  and  squire,  h« 
the  dwarf,  p.  32-34.  Robers  is 
useful  personage  all  through  the 
story. — F. 


LIBIUS   DLSCONIUS. 


443 


&,  rode  fforth  aU  in-sajne, 
ifc  told  the  Erie  in  euery  thing  * 
how  he  wan  in  ffighting 
744         his  Daughter  ffirom  woe  &  shame, 
then  were  these  heads  sent 
vnto  "King  Arthur  flTor  a  present 

with  much  mirth  &  game, 
748     that  in  Arthurs  court  arose 
of  Sir  Lybius  great  Losse  ^ 

&  a  right  good  name. 


Sir 
▲rthore's, 


and  Lyblns 
eendsthe 
giants'  beads 
to  King 
Arthur. 


752 


•56 


760 


4f  parte. 


3  the  Erie,  flTor  thai  good  deede, 
gaue  Sir  Lybius  for  his  meede 

sheeld  and  armour  bright, 
&  alsoe  a  noble  steede 
thai  was  good  in  euerye  need, 

in  trauayle  &>  in  ffight. 

[The  Fourth  Part.] 

now  Sir  Lybius  and  his  May 
tooke  their  leaue,  &  rode  their  way 
thither  as  they  had  hight.* 
Then  they  saw  in  a  parke  [page  828] 

a  Castle  stiffe  &  starke,^ 

thai  was  flTull  maruelouslye  dight ;  ' 


< 


764 


wrought  itt  was  with  lime  &  stone, — 
such  a  one  saw  he  neuer  none, — 
with  towers  stiffe  &  stout. 


Sir  Arthore 
gives  Lybius 


armour 

and  a  noble 
steed. 


Lybius  rides 
on  towards 
the  Waste 
Land, 


and 
castle 


tydynge. — Cot 
e,  praise. — F. 

le  Cotton  text  has  an  extra  stanza 
1  which  Sir  Arthore  offers  Ljbius 
aghter  Vyolette  to  wife,  but  the 
J  declined,  leaf  47  b.  MS.,  p.  30, 
The  French  has  neither  of  the 
».— F. 
y  Byde  for)>  all«  |>re 


oo 


Towaid  |>e  fiiyre  cyte, 

Kardeuyle  fore  so>  hyt  hyjt. — C. 
Here  follow  in  the  French  a  page  and 
a  quarter  of  what  M.  Hippeau  terms 
"  Digression  de  I'Autenr :  II  sera  fiddle 
k  celle  qn'il  ne  pent  encore  nommer 
i^amte^  mais  qu*il  appelle  la  moult  aimee." 
The  next  adventure  with  Sir  Qefferon, 
or  Part  IV,  is  omitted. — F. 
*  i.  e.  strong. — P. 

2 


444 


LIBIUS   DI8C0Nin8. 


which  he 
thlnka  very 
tttotkg. 


Hellen  tella 
him  that  a 
brave  knight 
Uvea  there: 


Sir  Lybins  said,  *'  Boe  hane  I  blis ! 
worthy  dwelling  here  itt  is 
768         to  them  that  stood  in  doubt !  " 
then  laughed  that  Maiden  bright, 
&  sayd,  "  here  dwelleth  a  Knight, 
the  best  that  here  is  about. 
772     who-8oe  will  with,  him  ffight, — 
be  he  Baron  or  be  he  knight, — 
he  maketh  him  to  lonte. 


whoerer 
brings  him 
aladj 


fairer  than 
hie  own, 
getea  white 
laloon; 


bat  if  ehe  is 
not  so  fair. 
Sir  Oefferon 


oate  his  head 
off. 


Lybios 
declares  he'll 
fight 
Oefferon, 


and  prodace 
Hellen  as 
his  love. 


"  soe  well  he  loneth  his  Leman 
776     that  is  soe  ffaire  a  woman, 
&  a  worthy  in  weede, 
who-soe  bringeth  a  fiairer  then, 
a  ioly  ffawcon  as  white  as  swan 
780         he  shall  hane  to  his  meede. 
&  if  shee  be  not  soe  bright, 
with  Str  Gefferon  he  must  £5ght ; 
ife  if  he  may  not  speed, 
784     ^  his  [head]  shall  be  fiProm  him  take, 
&  sett  ffull  bye  ypon  a  stake, 
trulye  withouten  dread. 

"  the  sooth  you  may  see  and  heere ; 
788     there  is  on  euery  corner^ 

a  head  or  tow  ffull  right.** 
Sir  Lybius  sayd  al  soe  soone, 
"  by  god  &  by  SJ  lohn  ! 
792         with  Sir  Gefferon  will  I  ffight, 
&  chalenge  the  lolly  ffawcon, 
&  say  that  I  haue  one  in  the  towne, 
a  lemman  al  soe  ^  bright ; 
796     &  if  hee  will  her  see, 
then  I  will  bring  *  thee, 
be  itt  day  or  by  night."  * 


»  hifl  [head]  shall.— P. 

'  Percy  has  added  an  e  at  the  end. 


— F. 
*  MS.  al0oe,  and  in  line  790.— F. 


al 


soe. — P 

*  Only  half  the  »  in  the  MS. 

*  by  day  or  night,  or  cMe  by. 


UBIC8   DIIKX)!IIl'8. 


445 


the  dwmrfic  Miyd,  "  by  Swccte  lenns  ! 
000    gentle  Sir  Lybyna  >  Dutconiys, 

thoa  pattest  thee  in  great  pcriill. 
Sir  Giffron  La  ffraudens,* 
in  flighting  ho  hath  an  tbo 
•04         Knights  flbr  to  beguilo." 

Sir  Ljbiiu  answered  and  sware, 
A  said,  "  therof  I  hano  no  care  ! 
bj  god  d^  bj  S\  Ojle, 
800     I  will  see  him  in  the  flace 
or  I  passe  out  of  this  place, 
jETor  all  his  snbtalle  wile !  " 


TheUwMt 
him 


of  GHViroa*! 


LybiM 

tor'mn;  he 
Mil  flghL 


withont  an  J  more  qoestjon 
lilS     thi*  >  dwelled  still  in  the  towne 
all  night  there  in  peace, 
on  the  morrow  he  made  him  rcadie 
flbr  to  winne  him  the  Masterj-e 
si€        cvrtes^  wi'thouten  Lease, 
he  armed  him  fiull  sure 
in  the  sajd  Armor 

//lut  KiH</  Arthurs^  woj*, 
i*so     A  his  horsse  began  he  to  Htryde ; 
the  dwarfli*  rod  by  \\\h  ii^'de 
t4>  thai  Htnmg  |ialace. 

Si'r  (ryflron  la  flraudeus 
*>24     rose*  vp,  as  itt  was  his  vse, 
in  the  morrow  tyde 

flur  to  honor  sweete  lesus. 

then  he  was  ware  of  S<r  Lybius ; 
nn         as  a  prin(*e  of  much  pryde 


Ljfbkm 


ttnd  rtdMto 


W. 


Cttttmn 


•  MS.  crrtrr  -  K. 

*  rr\  autorpa.     C«)C..  whi«h   most   I*' 
ngbu-  K.    M  Artburr*.  or  K»^4t  Xr- 


446 


LIBIU8  DI8CONIU8. 


andaikswhy 
booomfls. 


832 


ffast  he  rode  into  that  place. 

Str  Ieffix>ii  mamailed  att  that  case, 

&  loud  to  him  did  crye 
with  Yojce  loud  and  shrill : 
"  comest  thou  fibr  good  or  ill  ? 

tell  me  now  on  hye." 


"To  fight 
yoa.**  mj9 
Lybina; 

**joaha,Te 
xtomchfair 
maiden  asl 


giTO  nio 
rour  fiUoon 
for  King 
Arthur. 


Str  Lybins  said  al  soe  ^  tjte, 
836     "  certes  I  hane  greate  delight 
with  thee  ffor  to  ffight ! 
thou  hast  [said]  great  despite ;  ^ 
thou  hast  a  Leman,'  none  so  whyte 
840         by  day  or  by  night 

as  I  haue  one  in  the  towne, 
fiairer  of  fiashyon 
for  to  see  with  sight. 
844     therfore  thy  lolly  ffawcowne, 
to  K.ing  Arthur  with  the  crowne 
bring  I  will  by  right." 


My  lady  Ia  In 
CaiUigim ; 


we'll  not 
yonrs  and 
mine  In  the 
market, 
and  i»ee 
which  is 
the  fairer." 


Sir  Geffron  said  al  soe  right, 
848     "  where  shall  wee  see  that  sight, 
whether  the  ffairer  bee  ?  '* 
Sir  Lybiufi  said,  "  wee  will  flPull  right 
in  Cardigan  see  tliat  sight,* 
852         there  all  men  may  itt  see  ; 
in  the  middes  of  that  Markett, 
there  shall  they  both  be  sett 
to  looke  on  them  soe  ffree  *  ; 
856     ifc  if  my  Leman  be  browne, 
flTor  thy  loUy  ffawcowne 
iust  I  will  with  thee.'* 


•  MS.  alfioe,  and  in  1.  847.— F. 

•  Thou  seyste  a  foule  dispit**. — Lam. 

•  Lennan  in  the  MS. — F. 


*  In  Cardenyle  pyte  ly;!.— C 

*  bothe  bond  &  fre.— Cot. 


UB1C8   DI8C0ilir& 


447 


8ir  Geffron  said  alsoc  then, 
MO     **  I  wold  ffaino  as  anj  man 
to-daj  att  yondertyde.* 
all  this  I  grant  thee  well, 
k  out  of  this  Castell 
S64         to  Canligan  *  I  will  rydo." 
their  glones  were  there  vp  yold, 
that  flbrward  *  to  hold, 
as  princes  proud  in  prydc. 
SM     Sir  Lybins  wold  no  longer  blinn,^ 
but  rode  againe  to  his  inn 
h  wold  no  longer  abyde. 


LjrbtairtdM 


he  said  to  maid  Ellen 
97X     //4<it  was  soe  bright  &,  shcene, 

*^  looke  thou  make  thee  bowne  ! 
I  thee  say,  by  S!  Quiniin, 
Sir  Gefferons  Leman  I  will  winn : 
f*76         to-day  shce  will  come  to  towne, 
in  the  midds  of  this  cytye, 
that  men  may  yon  ftee, 

h  of  you  bothe  the  flashyon  ; 
|«MJ     h  if  thou  be  not  soe  brif^ht. 
With  S/r  Geffron  I  shall  flight 
to  winne  the  lollye  flTawcowne." 


tails  RallMi 
lofHra4]r* 


Mtbrlalo 
tw  iliowii 


0«fl«ruo'« 


the  dwarffe  answerwl,  "  for- thy  * 
HM     thai  thou  doi*st  a  deed  hardye* 
flbr  any  man  borne, 
tiiou  wilt  doe  by  no  mans  read 


Th*  dwarf 
tolto  hln  It's 
a  fcwflhafd/ 


'  rr/    'nrlrflT<ir.    -V.        hvii    «Ut    at 
rt.<^  !t  if.  -C.     Tbu  da^o  At  lotirr* 

I. 
K%r!/     i\A.     KArWU.-Um. 

•     IB  :&  't'  MS  -  K 
f   r   r>y   iktrtjtfrt,  ar«*«*nliC|r   to  C»I. 
A.  <'  I>  .   U«  rr  It   •bi#ukl  iM-rtii  to  \m 
ri      r       Cut    Muita  \\x\%  tCAiiM 


The  UmUth  MM.  hM : 

Thr  Ihrt'/if  aiwvrfd  ftad  tnd, 
"  Thov  tl(i«tr  a  iMTaKr  d«ilfi  ? 

ffur  a II J  man  t'Uim«- 
T<>«  wilt  D<tt  iSo  hj  li'«1o, 
Hut  far} at  with  thi  timM  \\m\m 
Km  lonir  that  vill  U  U^tm  " 
«  lutftlj* .  «|0.     F      MM  MIX  rlMif 


448 


LIBIU8  DI8COKIU8. 


be'd  better 
gooo  hU 
way. 


Lybiiuwont 
bear  of  this. 


for  tbon  fforest  in  thj  child  head 
888        as  a  man  that  wold  be  lome ! 
&  therfore  I  thee  praj 
to  wend  fforth  on  thy  way, 
&  come  not  him  beforne." 
892     Sir  Lybius  said,  '*  that  were  great  shame ! 
I  had  lener  with  great  grame  ^ 
wttb  wild  horsses  to  be  tome." 


HeUen 
decks  bendf 


with  s  Tiolet 
mantle, 


sndprecioas 

BtOUSB. 


maid  Ellen,  fiaire  and  free, 
896     made  hast  sickerlye 
her  ffor  to  attyre 
in  Keicheys  '  that  were  white, 
for  to  doe  all  his  delight, 
900        with  good  '  gold  wyer. 

a  yyolett  mantle,  the  sooth  to  say, 
ffurred  well  with  gryse  gay,* 
shee  cast  about  her  Lyer  * ; 
904     the  stones  shee  had  about  her  mold 
were  precyous  &  sett  wi'th  gold,^ 
the  best  in  that  shire. 


and  rides  on 
a  palfrey 


to  Cardigan 
market. 


Sir  Lybius  sett  that  fiaire  May 
908     on  ^  a  right  good  *  Palffrey, 
&  rode  fforth  all  three. 

euery  man  to  other  gan  say, 

"  heere  cometh  a  ffairc  May, 
912         And  louelye  ffbr  to  see  !  " 

into  the  Markett  hee  rode, 

&  boldly  there  abode 


im* 


*  i.e.  grief,  sorrow;  Tcxation,  angor; 
madness:  trouble,  affliction,  Gl.  ad 
Chauc. — P. 

*  Kercheffs,  qu, — P.  keuechers. — C. 
kerchevjs. — L. 

■  arayde  wjth. — Cot. 

*  Pelured  with  grjs  &  gray. — Cot. 


*  swyre  (neck). — Cot. 

■  A  sercle  vp-on  herr  molde, 
Of  stones  &  of  goldo. — Cot, 
Mold,   the    suture  of  the   skull; 
fash  ion ,  appearance. — Ha  11  i  wolL 

'  oTTiy  or  ?(?«<',  in  the  MS. — F. 

•  Vp-on  a  pomely. — Cot. 


1 


LiBirs  i)i2<coifir8. 


449 


in  the  middcfs '  of  that  citye. 
916     anon  the  saw  Gcffron  come  ryde, 
A  2  squiera  by  his  side, 
A  na  more  meanye  * : 


To  them 
Oiimrs 


he  Irnre  a  ahceldo  of  grecnc, 
9S0     richeiye  itt  was  to  bo  seene  '  ; 
of  gold  was  the  bordurc, 
dight  itt  was  with  fflowcni 
d  bIboo  With  rich  colours, 
934         like  as  itt^  were  an  Emperour. 
the  ^  squiers  did  with  him  ryde  ; 
the  one  bare  by  his  side 
3  shaAs  good  &  stoore/ 
92S     the  other  bare,  his  head  vpon, 
a  gi*ntle  lolly  ffawcon  ^ 
thai  was  laid  to  wager ; 


with  two 
•iiulnw 


(OO0  iMwrlnf 
afaloon) 


d  afler  did  a  Lady  ryde, 
93S     flaire  d  bright,  of  Mach  pryde, 
cladd  in  purple  pall, 
the  jKHJple  came  ffarr  &  wydf 
t<»  se**  //i*it  Ladye  in  (hnt  tyde,* 
u:iC         huw  gt'ntlu  *  shcM*  wait  and  Hniall ; 
hc*r  mantle  was  of  purple  ffine, 
woll  flum'd  with  j^ood  Armine, 
itt  was  rich  and  ruyall ; 
94i»     a  »4Ti*otte  wtt  a1)uut  hrr  nccke  h<h»  swecte 
With  dyuuiund  &  with  Marpin>tt, 
&  many  a  rich  Kmcnill ; 


and  hit  (air 
cIimI  In 


|iur]»lr, 


b«  r  •ttrt««t 
«rt  with 
«ltanN'ivU, 

an! 
tmrral^U  ; 


r.    II'*  m  thr  MS.      F. 
I?*':,  !*lit«        1* 

H-   '  If  K  «  !i*  M/ of  priulm. 

*  *?  •jl'i'f  tjir»-  whyTf  iHilra.     C 

*  '!!  -t  .'i'  r  *.hrrf  wliitr  «;whi  —  I.. 


•  »^ 


r. 


r. 

'   I  Wf'iAl  rrjwl   If  r-fiiutsin.  *«•«♦  ••    37 

(I  y::)  ».i..w.    IV    iTTfuw.^.tv    r 

•  T«»  !•«•  lii'f/  )  ak  A:  M«!«-  <'«»♦. 
(«hu  li  ha*  m.tii\  rnriatiouii  in  ttn-  iull-iv- 
in^  )tii««i.     K. 


450 

berbne 


bertuOr 
golden, 

ber  Iffowt 
UkeiUk, 


lier  flyw 


The  looken- 
on 


pat  two 
chains  for 
the  ladies, 


and  decide 
that 

Gelforon*8 
is  the  fairer. 


Hellcn  is 
only  fit  to  bo 
her  laundry- 
maid. 


LybioB  then 
challenges 
Gefferon  to 
light. 


L1BIU8   DI8COMIUS. 

her  colour  was  as  the  rose  red ; 
944     her  haire  thai  was  on  her  head, 
as  gold  wyer  itt  shone  bright ; 
her  browes  were  al  soe  ^  silke  spread, 
ffaire  bent  in  lenght  &  bread  ; 
948         her  nose  was  fiaire  and  right ; 
her  eyen  gray  as  any  glasse  ; 
milke  white  was  her  Sace. 
th6  said  iliat  sawe  that  sight, 
952    her  body  gentle  and  small, 
*  her  beautye  flfor  to  tell  all, 
noe  man  with  tonnge  might.' 

unto  the  Markett  men  gan  bring 
966     2  Chaires  ffor  to  sitt  in, 

their  bewiye  ffor  to  descrye. 
then  said  both  old  &  yonnge, — 
fforssooth  without  Leasing 
960        betweene  them  was  pai-tye, — * 
Greffrons  Leman  was  ffaire  &  cleere 
as  euer  was  any  rose  on  bryer,' 
fforsooth  without  Lye. 
964     Maid  Ellen,  the  Messenger, 

seemed  to  her  but  a  Launderer  * 
in  her  nursery e. 

then  said  Sir  Geffron  la  ffraudeus,* 
968     **  Sir  Knight,  by  Sweet  lesus, 

thy  head  thou  hast  fforlore  ^  !  " 

"  nay  !  "  said  Sir  Lybius, 

"  that  was  neuer  my  vse  ! 
972         iust  I  will  therfore  ; 


»  MS.  alsoe.— F. 

'  This  Line  in  a  Parenthesis. — P. 

•  brere. — P.    There  is  no  short  stroke 
to  the  y  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  i.  0.  Launderess,  Laundress. — P. 


le  fludous. — Cot. 

lost.— P.     The  Cotton  MS.  rea 
Syr  lybeaus  Desconus, 
|>ys  hauk  )xm  hast  for-lore. 


UBIIH   DI£COXIU8.  451 

**  S^  if  thou  bearo  me  downe, 
take  m J  head  on  thj  fliawchjon, 
A  home  with  thee  itt  lead ; 
976    A  if  I  beare  downe  thee, 

the  Icrflancon  shall  goe  with  mee 
maogro  thj  head  indeed. 

"  what  necdeth  vs  more  to  chjde  P 
990    bat  into  the  saddle  let  ts  glyde, 
to  prone  our  mastery.'* 
either  smote  on  others  shecld  the  while        TbcydMugc 
with  crownackles  '  that  were  of  Steele, 

954  wi'th  grehi  cnvje. 

then  their  spcares  brake  assnnder ;  ISlUtaLk, 

the  dinta  ffarcd  as  the  thunder 
thai  Cometh  out  of  the  skje. 

955  trumpetta  A  tabonrs, 
herawdyes  Sl  good  desoures,* 

Their  stroakes  flbr  to  *  deserye.   ipt^  u\} 

Oeffron  then  began  to  spcake : 
99 s     '^brinfir  me  a  spi*rc  thai  will  not  brcke,         u^^frcmci 
a  nhafl  wi'th  one  crownall  !  nt^r  thuj 

won't  bttak, 

flur  thin  young  ffelcy  ffn^kc 
sitti*th  in  his  saddle  steke  * 
996         as  stone  in  Castle  wall. 

I  sliall  make  him  to  stoopo  utA  hrii 

swithe  ouer  his  saddle  croopo,  LjUot  t 

A  giuo  him  a  great  fTall, 
imio     tho  he  were  as  wight  a  warryour 
as  Alexander  or  Arthur, 

Sir  Lancelott  or  Sir  Porciuall.'* 

•  f  r-.fiaU— 04,     G'r«»»W.  th«  wil*r  •erm  to  Mgnifjr  tb*»  htmd»  of  tie  ■p<<«m. 

f*r*  '  f  •  j<»u*t:ii|C-Uorr.  («jfi«trurt«4i  to  — I*. 

i.:h'r»*.    Vui   tuA    Ut  voaot!,  •  knight.  '  di«»>ur*.  trllrr*,  n.irmtrr*.-   F. 

VATi'.lt.  y.    i'Jft  («ith    m    rut    of  ow.  •  p.n. -('«•«. 

I-    Tlu*  •r«>m«  to  W  thr  Aamr  mm  Cniv>  *  i»t«*kf'  fur  •turk.  rUiihmi  frnui*.— I*. 

bA«l.  an.  441  [*j(  M> .  1  993  li#rr).     Uth 


452 


UBIUS   DISC0NIU8. 


Tbey  oharfB 
•gAin. 


Ocfferoo 
loses  hU 
■hiekl. 


then  the  "Knights  both  tow 
1004     rode  together  swithe  thoe 
with  great  reii[d]owne  * : 
Sir  Ljbius  smote  Sir  Ge£fron  soe 
thai  his  sheild  ffell  him  ffiroe 
1008         into  the  ffeeld  againe.* 

then  laughed  all  that  was  there, 
&  said  without  more, 
Duke,  Erie,  or  Barron, 
1012     that  *'  th^  saw  neuer  a  K.night^ 
ne  noe  man  abide  might 
a  course  of  Sir  Greffron.*' 


The  third 
ooane, 
Oefferon 
does  no- 
thing. 

Thefoorth, 


another  course  gan  the  ryde  : 
1016     Sir  Grefl5?on  was  aggreeued  that  tyde 
fibr  hee  might  not  speede. 
he  rode  againe  al  soe  '  tjte, 
&  Sir  Ljbius  he  gan  *  smite 
1020        as  a  doughtye  man  of  deed. 


Lybiiw 


bn'aks 

(toflreron's 

back. 


and  wins  his 
falcon. 


Sir  Lybius  smoto  him  soe  ffast 
that  Sir  Gefiron  soone  he  cast 
him  and  his  horsse  a-downe  ; 
1024     Sir  leffrons  backe  bono  he  brake 
that  the  ffolkes  hard  itt  cracke  ; 

lost  was  his  renowno. 
then  they  all  said,  lesse  &  more, 
1028     that  Sir  Geffrons  had  Lore 
the  white  Grerffawcon.* 
the  people  came  Sir  Lybius  before, 
&  went  With  him,  lesse  &  more, 
1032         anon  into  the  towne  ; 


*  Wit  A  welle  greet  Eaundoun. — Cot. 
'  I  would  read  adoume.  see  below,  st. 
46. — P.     a-doun. — Cot.     a-downe. — L. 


■  MS.  alsoe. — F. 

*  MS.  gam.— F. 

*  Only  half  the  w  in  the  MS.— F. 


LIBIUS   DISCOMIUS. 


453 


1036 


&  Sir  GeflTron  ffirom  the  ffeeld 
was  borne  home  on  his  sheild 

with  care  and  rueffuU  mone. 
the  Grerffawcon  sent  was, 
by  a  knight  that  hight  Chandas/ 

to  bring  to  Arthur  with  the  crowne  ; 


(Jefferon  is 

carried 

home. 


The  falcon 
is  sent  by 
Chaudas 


&  rote  ^  to  him  all  that  dead,' 
1040     Sd  wt'th  him  he  gan  to  leade 

the  ffawcon  that  Sir  Ljbins  wan. 
when  the  King  had  heard  itt  read, 
he  said  to  his  knt^^ts  in  that  stead, 
1044         "  Sir  Lybius  well  warr  can ! 
he  hath  me  sent  with  honor 
that  he  hath  done  battells  4 
since  that  he  began  ; 
1048     I  will  him  send  of  my  treasure, 
ffor  to  spend  to  his  honor, 
as  ffalleth  ^  ffor  such  a  man." 


to  King 
Arttiur, 


who  praises 
LybiuB, 


a  100"  ready  *  prest 
1U52     of  ffloryins  to  spend  with  the  best, 
he  sent  to  Cardigan  towne. 
then  Sir  Lybius  held  a  feast 
that  lasted  40  dayes  att  Least 
1056        With  Lords  of  renowne.* 
&  att  the  6:  weeke  end 
hee  tooke  his  leaue,  ffor  to  wend, 
of  duke,  Erie,  and  Barron. 


andaeuds 
him  to 
Cardigan 
£1(»0  of 
florins, 
with  which 
Lybius 
nutkesa 
forty  days* 
feast, 


and  then 
takes  his 
leave. 


There  was  one  Chandos  a  herald, 
•se  book  is  preserved  in  Worcester 
ege  Library,  Oxon. — P. 
He  wrote,  sic  Icgerim. — P. 
deed.— P. 
fitteth,  qu.— P. 
ready,  speedy. — P. 


'  The  Cotton  text  sends  the  falcou 
by  a  knyght  that  hyght  Gludas,  to  King 
Arthur ;  and  Arthur  sends  Lybius  back 
a  hundred  pound  of  florins  to  Cardelof, 
where  Lybius  holds  feast  forty  days. 
(MS.  leaf  49,  coL  2  ;  ed.  Ritson,  p.  42). 


4o4 


LIBIUS   DISCONirS. 


[Tlie  Fifth  Part.] 

[Th.-  A'lvpDturc  of  the  Hound,  and  the  Fight  with  Sir  Otes  de  Lile.] 


L>biu  ride* 
on 


towanl* 
biruuiou. 


Jh:  hcan  a 
horn. 


an'l  the 
flwarf  fayit 


1060 


5*  parte 

1064 


1068 


S/r  Ljbins  and  his  ffaire  May 
rode  fforth  on  their  way 

towards  Sinadon. 
I  then  as  they  rod  in  a  throwe,* 
-^  homes  heard  they  lowd  blowe, 
&  hoinds  ^  of  great  game, 
the  dwarffe  said  in  that  ihrowe,' 
"  thai  home  I  well  know 
many  yeeres  agone ; 


Hlr  otrsj  flc 
Lih-V. 


1072 


"  Thatt  home  bloweth  S/r  Ortes  de  lile, 
That  scrued  *  my  Ladye  a  while 

secmlye  in  her  hall ; 
&  wlion  shoe  was  taken  w/th  gaile, 
he  ffled  from  that  pcrill 

west  into  worrall.*  " 


tl»««5K] 


Then  they 
HOt-  a 
U>antiful 
hound 


but  as  they  rode  talking, 

1076     they  saw  a  ratch  *  raninge 

ouerthwart  the  way. 

then  said  both  old  &  yonng, 

"  ffrom  the  ffirst  begining 

1080        they  saw  nouer  none  soo  gay. 


'  a  nhort  ppaoe,  sod  vid.  infra,  perhaps 
in  a  row.— P.  A.-S.  \>rah,  a  bpiee,  time. 
—  F. 

*  hounds. — P. 

*  a  fast,  a  btroke.  It.  short  space, 
Chaiie.  01. -P. 


•  serucde. — Cot, 

»  Wyrhale.—Cot. 

*  Hatches.  Genus  Gannm :  Braooonce, 
Lyo.  Jun. — ^P.  A.-S.  nre$,  a  rach,  a 
sotting  dog  ?  Lye,  in  Boawortb.  ?  a  dqg 
hunting  by  scent. — ^F. 


LIBir8   DLSCOXIU8. 


455 


1064 


hee  wms  of  all  cooloarea 
thai  men  maj  ace  on  flowers 

betweene  Midflamnier  A  Maj. 
the  Majd  tajd  al  soe '  soone, 
^  8oe  (aire  a  ratcb  I  neoer  saw  none, 

nor  pleaaanier  to  mj  pay  *  ! 


ofalltoru 
ctookmx*. 


EMm 
tallu 


''  wold  to  God  thai  I  him  oaght  > ! " 
1088     Sir  LjbioB  anon  him  caught, 
Sl  gaoe  him  to  maid  Elen.^ 
thej  rode  fforth  all  rightes, 
A  told  of  ffighting  wi'th  KniV/Ata 
109S        fPor  ladjes  bright  &  sheene. 
thej  had  rjdden  but  a  while, 
not  the  spaee  of  [a]  Mile 
into  thai  lETorrest  groene  ; 
1U98     then  thej  taw  a  hind  aterke,* 
k  2  grajhonnda  thai  were  like 
the  ratch  Mat  I  of  meane. 


aoLybiw 
oaUrbMit 


8»«U:4J 


foUuwfldbj 

two  fPt9f* 

hoondt, 


the  hunted  *  atill  vndcr  the  Land  ' 
I  icio     to  see  the  course  of  //i<it  hind 
vndcr  the  fforrest  side. 
there  beside  dwelled  //i<it  KniV/At 
thai  Sir  Otes  de  lile  hight, 
1 104         a  man  of  much  pride ; 
he  was  cladd  all  in  Inde,* 
k  fiast  pursued  aAer  the  hind 


■Dd  •t'^p  to 
WAtch  her. 


LUr 


*  MUulictiOD.  likioi;.  —  P. 

•    */WT>*l.  pUfrot.--!*. 

*  Tb«-  Frrfkcb  t^it  maki**  th««  b^mn*! 
•«'  ;  «rh  •  thtiin  in  it«  fiK^t .  ll«-llrQ 
^aA'-^  ■*'  '»yt.  n'l««  off  With  thf  *l««ir.  »n«l 


«    !.-«a*«mAa    ftrr*    it    utflrr    hrr   rliiak. 
?•':-'  n  fu»r*  to  |fiT«»  It  u|'  ii»  him  ur  Ins 

^  .'a  LnUt^  nd«^  off  fur  his  «nnu«ir.  ami 


6ghtii  Lrbiun. — F. 

•  »tout  Hind.-- P. 

■   h»»Yr«|f  ( fttol*!  \.  —Cot. 

'  Pmi-rrly  a  T»il  or  IiiiM»  irr*»,  Iml 
in  th*-««  t-iIU<l*»  It  «r<«-iuM  to  t«  u«<tl  for 
Tr»t»  in  ^ut  ml.     1*. 

*  1  «>.  a/iir«>  or  l»lu<*  •■  tUM-*!  '  y  I.}«U. 
-Miwk  aivurdiDg   to  Sp.     UL  ad  Ch. 


456 


LIBIUS  DI8C0NIU& 


rklMby  on 
bay. 


LyhioA 
and  Ilelltfn, 


and 

mnonitratoa 
wiil)  them 
for  taking 
bU  bonnd. 


Lybina  eaya 
be  means  to 
keep  it. 


SirOtca 
wariiH  him 
to  l(X>k  out 
for  bid  life. 


LyMufl  calls 
him  a  churl. 


SirOtefl 
rebukciihim; 


ypon  a  bay  distere  ; 
1 108     loude  lie  gan  his  home  blow, 
for  the  hunters  shold  itt  know, 
&  know  where  he  wei-e. 

as  he  rode  by  that  woode  right, 
1112     there  he  saw  thai  jounge  Kjiight 
&  alsoe  that  ffaire  May  ; 
they  dwarffe  rode  by  his  side. 
S/r  Otes  bade  they  shold  abyde, 
1116         they  Ledd  ^  his  ratch  away : 

"  ffreinds,"  he  said,  "  why  doe  you  soe  ? 
let  my  ratch  ffirom  you  goe ; 
good  for  you  itt  were. 
1120     I  say  to  you  without  Lye, 
this  ratch  has  beene  my 
all  out  this  7  yeere." 

Sir  LybiuR  said  anon  tho, 
1124     ''I  tooke  him  with  my  hands  2, 
&  With  me  shall  he  abyde ; 
I  gaue  him  to  this  maid  heiid  ^ 
that  with  me  dothe  wend 
1128         riding  by  my  side.** 

then  said  S/r  Otes  de  lile, 
"  thou  puttest  thee  in  great  pcrill 
to  be  slaine,  if  thou  abide." 
1132     Sir  Lybius  said  in  that  while, 

"  I  giue  right  nought  of  thy  wile, 
churle !  tho  thou  chyde.** 

then  spake  Sir  Otes  do  lile, 
1136     &  said,  "  thy  words  be  vile  ! 

churle  was  neuer  my  name  ! 
I  say  to  thee  without  ffayle, 
the  countesse  of  Carlile 

certes  was  my  dame  ; 


1140 
'  The  last  (2  has  a  tag  to  it— F. 


»     ntle,  kind.— P. 


LIBIUS   DISGONIUS. 


457 


"  ifc  if  I  were  armed  now 
as  well  as  art  thou, 

wee  wold  ffight  in-same. 
1144    or  thou  my  ratch  ffrom  me  reae,^ 
we  wold  play,  ere  itt  were  eue, 
a  wonderons  strong  game.'* 
Sir  Ljbius  said  al  soe  '  prest, 
1 148     "  goe  fforth  &,  doe  thy  best ; 

Thy  ratcli  with  mee  shall  wend."    [page  sss] 
they  rode  on  right '  west 
througe  a  deepe  fforrest, 
1162        then  as  the  dwarffe  them  kend.^ 


if  he  were 
armed,  he 
would  fight 
him. 


Lyhins  nys 


beet, 


\T 


onr 


aadrideeon. 


Sir  Otes  de  lile  in  thai  stower 
rode  home  into  his  Tower, 
&,  ffor  his  ffireinds  sent, 
1 156     &  told  them  anon-rights 

how  one  of  Arthurs  Knt^Ats 

shamely  had  him  shent, 
&  had  his  ratche  away  Inome.^ 
1160    then  th6  sayd  all  and  spme,^ 

ihai  '*  theese  shall  soone  be  tane ; 
&  nener  home  shall  hee  come 
tho  he  were  as  grim  a  groome 
1164        as  eaer  was  Sir  Oawaine."  ^ 


SirOtee 


tellBhiB 
friends 


how  badly 
LybioB  has 
treated  him. 


They  say 
they'll  soon 
take  Lybiiu. 


1168 


they  dight  them  to  armes 
with  gleaaes  ^  and  gysarmes,^ 
as  they  wold  warr  on  take  ; 
Knights  and  sqniers 


They  and 
their  friends 
arm. 


•  bereare,  take  away. — P. 
«  alsoe,  MS.— F. 

*  th  \b  croesed  out  between  t  and  w, 
— F. 

^  taught,  made  known.    01.  Ch. — P. 

*  y-nome,  taken.    Sax.  niman,  to  take, 
hinc  nim.    ■Lye. — ^P. 

•  Bone  in  Ma— F. 


*  >an|  he  wew  )>o|tyeri0  gome 

Than  Lauiicelot  du  hike. — Cot. 
M.  Hippean  printa  "thogh  tyer,*'  which 
doesn't  look  much  like  "  doughtier  "  at  first 
MS.  is  clear,  leaf  50,  col.  2, 1.  6.— F. 

*  gleave,  a  sword,  cutlace,  Fr.  glaive, 
— P.    Bwerdes. — Cot. 

*  gysarme,  a  halbert  or  BilL   Sk. — P. 


TOL.  11. 


H  H 


458 

noont. 


UmUS  DI8C0NIU8. 

leapt  on  their  diBteres 
ffor  their  Lords  sake. 


LybioB, 


■adaay 

tbeynikfll 

him. 


Ijbios 


■dTins 
HeUcn 


ypon  a  hill  tml je 
1172     Sir  LybiuB  thej  can  espje, 
ryding  a  well  good  pace, 
to  him  gan  thej  loud  crye, 
&  said,  '*  thou  shalt  dye 
1 176        ffor  thj  great  trespas  !  '* 
Sir  Ljbius  againe  beheld 
how  ffoU  was  the  ffeild, 
for  many  people  there  was  ; 
1180     he  said  to  Maid  Ellen, 
"  ffor  this  ratch  I  weene 

to  Ys  commeth  a  carefull  case. 


to  hide  in 
the  forest. 


HewiU 
abide  the 
bAttle. 


Lybios'g  foes 


fire  Ht  him 
with  bowa 


and  wound 
him. 


He  rides 
down  men 
and  horses, 


"  I  rede  that  yee  withdraw 
1184    yonder  into  the  woods  wawe,* 
yottr  heads  for  to  hyde  ; 
ffor  here  vpon  this  plaine, 
tho  I  shold  be  slaine, 
1188         the  battell  I  will  abyde." 
into  the  fforrest  th6  rode ; 
and  Sir  Lybius  there  abode 
of  him  what  may  betyde. 
1192     then  the  smote  at  him  with  crossebowes, 
With  speare,  <fc  with  bowes  turkeys,* 
that  made  him  wounds  wyde. 

S/r  Lybius  with  his  horsse  ran, 
1196     &  bare  downe  horsse  and  man  ; 


'  wode  schawe. — Cot.  wawe  is  used 
in  Chauar  for  a  wave,  but  that  can 
hardly  be  the  sense  here. — P.  ?  Waw, 
wall.     Jamieson. — F. 

■  i.  e.     longbowea.       Fr.     TurquoU^ 


Turkish,  such  as  the  Turka  use,  G 
G.D.— P.  See  Strutt,  p.  66,  oJ.  1 
— F. 

WitA  bowe  and  with  arblaste 
To  hym  they  schote  faste.— -Cot. 


LOIUB  OI8001IIU8.  459 

(Tor  nothing  wold  he  spare, 
eaerj  num  said  then 

that  hee  was  the  ffecnd  Sathan  Ukt  Bates, 

isoo        thai  wold  mankind  ffoHare  > ; 

ffbr  he  ikat  Sir  Lybios  raoght, 
his  death  woond  there  he  caught, 

&  smote  them  downe  by-deene. 
I104     bat  anon  he  was  besett»  bvtifbwH 

as  a  (fish  in  a  nett, 

with  g^roomes  '  ffell  and  keene ; 

for  12  Kni^Ats  rerelye  iqr  tw«iTt 

ifos    he  saw  come  ijding  redylye 
in  armes  fiaire  &  bright ; 
all  the  day  they  had  rest,  JiS^Ji 

for  th^  thought  in  the  ffbrrest  ^^* 

IslS        to  see  Sir  Lybius  thai  Knight, 
in  a  sweate  they  were  all  12, — 
one  was  the  Loref  himselfe 

in  they  *  ryme  to  read  right  :— 
|}I6     they  smote  att  him  all  att  once,  Stta^him 

ffor  they  thought  to  broake  his  bones  ^toooe. 

A  flfell  him  downe  in  ffight. 

flfast  together  can  th6  ding ; 
ino     A  round  they  stroakes  he  gan  fflinge  LjUm 

among  them  all  in  fere ; 

tforsooth  without  Leasing 

the  sparkells  out  gan  springe 
11S4         of  sheeld  and  hamesse  ^  cloere. 

Sir  Lrbius  slew  of  them  3,  kiib  thrw 

a  4  away  gan  fflee  foor 


^rii^rv.    prrinp.       A. -8.    /or/trmM.  *  the.— P.     Then*  it  notbii^  of  Uiit 

r  iund^ot  io  ih«»  Frtoch.— K. 

IT*      P  •  Onlj  Ulf  the  «  ID  Um  Ma-P. 

■  ■  2 


460 


LIBIUS  DISOONIUS. 


BlrOtatand  1888 

histoorioDa 


And  wold  not  come  him  nere ; 
the  Lord  abode  in  that  stonrey 
&  Boe  did  his  sonnes  ^ 

to  sell  their  lines  deere. 


strike  »t 


niB  blood 
flows, 


bis  swofd 
breaks. 


Sir  Otes  cots 
into  bis 


then  they  gane  ^  stroakes  rine,* 
123S    he  one  against  them  5, 

&  ffonght  as  they  were  wood, 
nye  downe  they  gan  him  bring ; 
as  the  water  of  a  Spring 
1836        of  him  ran  the  bloode ; 

his  sword  brake  by  the  hilte ; 
then  was  he  neere  spilt ; 
he  was  finll  madd  of  moode. 
18iO    the  hord  a  stroake  on  him  sett 
through  helme  and  Basnett, 
in  the  sknll  itt  stoode. 


and  be 
swoons; 


bat  soon 
be  revives, 


seizes  bis 
axo, 


then  in  a  swoone  he  lowted  lowe ; 
1844    he  leaned  on  his  saddle  bow 

as  a  man  thai  was  nye  slake ; 
his  4  sonnes  were  all  a  bowne  ' 
ffor  to  perish  *  his  Acton,* 
1848        donble  Maile  and  plate ; 
bnt  as  he  gan  to  smart, 
againe  he  plucked  vp  ^  his  hart, 
as  the  Kinde  ^  of  his  estate  ; 
1 858     &  soone  he  hent  in  his  fi&st 

an  axe  tJiai  hanged  on  his  sadle  crest, 
almost  itt  was  too  late. 


and  kills 
tbreeborses. 


1856 


then  he  ffonght  as  a  'Knight ; 
their  horsses  ffeU  downe  right, 


'  g^n. — P. 

*  rive,  To  thrust,  stab,   to  rend,  &c. 
Gl.  ad  Ch.— P.    ?  rife,  all  about— F. 

■  ready. — ^P. 

*  perce. — Cot     pfrsjne. — Lam.  MS. 


*  Ft.  Hocqueton. — P. 

•  Vp  he  pullede. — Cot  (leaf  . 
col.  2.)    He  pulled  vp.  —Lam. 

'  Four  strokes  for  m  in  the  1 


LIBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


461 


he  slew  att  stroakes  3. 
&  when  the  liord  saw  the  ffight, 
of  his  horsse  a-downe  gan  light/ 
1260        away  hee  fiast  gan  fflee. 
Sir  Lybins  noe  longer  abode, 
but  after  him  fiast  he  rode, 

&  vnder  a  chest  of  tree  ' 
I26i    there  he  had  him  killed ; 
but  the  liord  him  jeelded 

att  his  will  fibr  to  bee, 


SirOtcs 
fleet; 


Lybitu 
catobes  him. 


andSlrOfcet 
iekls  np 
ixnaelf 


I 


&  fibr  to  yeeld  him  his  stent,' 
1268    treasure.  Land,  and  rent, 
Castle,  hall,  &  tower. 
Sir  Lybius  consented  therto 
in  *  ffbrward  thai  he  wold  goe 

1275  vnto  King  Arthur, 

&  say,  "  Lord  of  great  renowne ! 
in  battell  I  am  ouerthrowne  ; 
&  sent  thee  to  honor." 

1276  the  Lord  granted  theretill, 
fibr  to  doe  all  his  will. 

they  went  home  to  his  tower, 

&  anon  Maiden  Ellen 
1280    with  knights  ffiueteene 

was  fieitched  into  the  Castle, 
shee  &  the  dwarfie  by-deene 
told  of  his  deeds  Keene, 
1284        &  how  that  itt  befell 
that  hee  had  presents  ^  4 
sent  vnto  King  Arthur, 


and  all  his 
lands  and 
goods. 


and  agrees  to 
go  to  King 
Arthur 


andhonoiir 
him. 


Thejgoto 
SirOtes's 
castle. 
Hellen  Is 
brought 

thfiKBi 


and  tells  Sir 

Otes 

that  he  is 

LjbivufB 

fourth 

present  to 

Arthur. 


id  on  hys  courser  ly;t. — Cot. 
ihesten  tree,  i.  e.  a  Chesniit  Tree, 
gerim.   vid.  OL    ad    Chanc — ^P. 
m. — Cot.    chesteyne. — Lam. 
I  stint,  apud  Salopiendes,  signifies 


his   measore,  his  qiuwtitj,  his  share. 
— ^P.    be  sertayne  eztante. — Cot. 

*  MS.  him.— F.    in.— Cot 

'  presentes. — Cot    persones. — Lam. 


462 


LIBIU8  DISC0NIV8. 


Lybins 


from  his 
woiindi 


•ad  rides  on 

towards 

Rin>dop» 


SirOtMgoei 
to  Arthur, 


and  tellsbim 
how  LybioB 
beat  him. 


iluxt  he  had  woone  fihll  well. 
IS88    the  Lord  was  glad  &  bljthe, 
&  thanked  god  often  sithe, 
&  alsoe  S!  Michall,i 

that  snch  a  noble  Knight 
IS9S     shold  ffor  that  Ladje  fBght 

that  was  soe  ffaire  and  ffiree. 

in  the  towne  dwelled  a  Knight : 

att  the  finll  fibrtnight 
1296        Sir  LjbyiLB  '  there  gan  bee, 

&  did  heale  him  of  his  wounds 
bothe  hole  and  sonnd 
by  the  6  weekes  end. 
1800     then  Sir  Lybius  and  his  May 
rode  fforthe  on  their  way, 

to  Sinadon  to  wend ; 
and  alsoe  the  Lord  of  that  tower 
isoi    went  vnto  Ktn^  Arthur, 

&  prisoner  him  did  yeeld, 
&  told  how  a  Knight  yoxmge 
in  ffighting  had  him  woone, 
1308         &  onercome  him  in  the  ffeeld ; 

<fc  said,  "  liord  of  great  renowno  ! 
I  am  in  batteU  brought  a-downe 

With  a  Knight  soe  bolde.** 
1312     King  Arthur  had  good  game, 
&  Boe  had  they  all  in-same 

tJiat  heard  that  tale  soe  told.' 


*  The  Cotton  text  omits  the  rest  of 
this  part.  The  French  of  the  whole 
part  is  very  different. — F. 

'  One  stroke  too  many  for  u  in  the 
MS.  There  means,  I  suppose,  the  house 
of  the  knight  of  1.  1294.  The  Lambeth 
MS.  has : 

Lybeous  a  fourtenyght 
Then  with  him  came  lende, 


He  did  hclen  his  wounde, 

And  made  him  hole  and  i 

Corresponding  nearly  with  ooi 

■  The  French  puts  in  here 

the  Falcon  or  Sparrow-hawk, 

Hippeau  summarises  thus,  p. : 

L  luconnu,  Robert,  H^lJe,  e 

aper^oivent,  en  soriant  du  ho 

Lybius  has  yanquished  POty 


UBirS  DISCONICS. 


463 


IS16 


ef  ptrte 

isto 


I3S4 


[The  Sixth  Part.] 

[Ljbtiis's  AdTTBtiire  at  Um  Ik  Dore.] 

rNow  let  TB  rest  awhile 
of  StV  Otee  de  lile, 

&  tell  wee  other  tales. 
8ir  Ljlrins  rode  manj  a  mile, 
•awe  '  adnentiues  maiij  k  rile 

in  England  *  &  in  Wales, 
till  itt  hefTell  in  the  monthe  of  June, 
when  the  flenell  *  hangeth  in  the  towne 

all  greene  in  seemlje  manner/ 
The  midsummer*  daj  is  ilaire  &  long ; 
merrj  is  the  tlbales  songe, 

the  notes  of  birds  on  brjar* ; 


immy^ 


U  JjnUf,  <mr  Sir  Oim],  «b  eMid  cfo« 
dc<«rr»l.  fiow  rrair  4  War  mMOBtiv, 
wMf  <l4MN>  hrhmrat  rUxm  ct  duam 
ba»Qt^  f»nwnU-  EUe  lr«r  apprvBd 
Mr  rrUi  q«*«Ue  aimsit  •  M  tmk  fmr  nm 

tc«m.    La  ae  trovTp,  <lit-«U«,  la  ^fjcrricr 

prfrh*  vmr  um  bAtoo  (Tor.  La  djuaci- 
•rli«-  qua  poQirm  t'ea  emparcr  arrm  pn»- 
cLiaKY  U  ptoft  brllc ;  maia  alia  darrm 
a#  fAipp  aor>4BpafTirr  p*r  an  ciirTalirr 
»Mi  t  banii  poor  o»ar  a^  BMaanr  aT«  la 
■baitrv>  d#  IVprmrr.  La  paarrv  daiDoi- 
•rLW.  d#«irrta*0  cfobCrair  Ir  ffrim  dr  la 
Lir««ia.  arait  coodoit  a  C€>  chmU^n  arm 
aokt  Qoi  arait  aarcriaili«  daaa  nae  latta 
lavymlr.  "  Jr  U  Tros^rai.  et  rooa  a^rrx 
r»r«.>aAaa  <^imair  U  plwi  brUa !  **  dit 
I  Ib^'Sca.  qoi  troaTa  r(«ra«ioo  d'aa 
a^ATvAo  tnuBpha.  OtJUt,  U  JUs 
^ft.  r»t  trfraaaa  aa  «4t(;  rt,  romm^ 
fliM-oaiBQ    appfrod    qoc     la    jrtiA#    filU 

5«/  U<]«#llr  il  r)#fit  da  ar  l««ttfr  «•«( 
anrorrtr.  U  AlU  d«  rii  d'KcvKHw.  Ajpi^- 
Uu.  U  Ta  fiut  CQftflairr  cIm^  •««  firrp 
car  aa  rWralMT  doat  la  valritr  H  la 
\l^%m\0  auat  r|mMV^.  Ilrli#  rr«-on' 
oait  •«  rll#  aa  c«j>«wiaa.  rlU  lai  fait  dr 
t«ttdrr«  adi^ox.  "Ja  a«  •aj*."  dit-«'IU 
•vvr  •ra»ilHiit4^.  "  «  jaaauiia  jp  T<j««  rv- 


•  fair 


Mitf  «lUy  ML      < 


—  F. 


Cur  tha  V  IS 


tjU 


*  Oaa  atf^bka  too 

aad  arr  avatoora  Uia  vbila 
aad'(i&]  IHaada, -Laat. 

Clirrril  4  f««arl 


riV  -  &1#,  a 
f'-la  Biibtjigv  tva 


►a  wyrta  gtaeaop 
arittir  dnbf«« 
haJi|^  oa  bMi/lHiaai 


Tb^a*-  vifta  fcif  wl 
^Tbr^vit-fult  lyjfd 
Holy  la  b«wra» 


H  be  b^jaKvjdr  aKU   Tbroi  be  aaC  boaf- 


oa  rii. 


Lad  •• 


Aad  •'^t  u>  tbe  7 
'umld'  wjrida 

lom  «W   cadi-    For  tba  y^tt  h  tba 
I      nrb 

rmliufli  t«>  Ujte.         '  F'lr  a  rvOM^dy  |  for 

i      aU. 
ljt^kd'fm»,  lit.   94-7.  ad.  CitflLayae. 
«  IV   bao   adil«<l   an   #   to  tba  r      F. 
%iiXr^      ('*4      aaala — Laoi. 

*  ( *R0>  tf  nA«-  iw  fr«  U  tbe  MS       F. 

•  brvrn-      1» 

Af  0'4r«  uf  tb^  oj|tjO|pilaa    -<*«iC. 
AxmI  tHjtit  of  tbe  avgbt  jnifal*      I^ai 


S 


c. 


-4'. 


464 

Ijbias 


»(air 


ci^y. 


whkdi 
Helk-n 
iellBhim 


Is  He  d'Ore, 


UBIUS  DISCONinS. 

Sfr  Lybius  then  gan  ryde 
IS28    along  by  a  riner  side, 
&  saw  a  ffaire  Ciiye 
wtth  panilljonfi  of  mucli  pride, 
&  a  castle  ffiure  &  wyde, 
iSdS        and  gates  great  pleniye. 

he  asked  ffast  what  itt  hight : 
the  maid  said  anon-right, 
"  Sir,  I  will  tell  thee ; 
1336    men  clepeth  itt  De  dore ;  ^ 

there  hath  beene  slaine  'Kntghta  more 
then  beene  in  this  conntrye 


and  that* 
loTdy  lady 
la  kepi  there 


by  the  giant 
Mangy  8» 


to  whom 
ercry  knight 
muKt  bow, 
and  lay  down 
hiaarmoar. 


"  fibr  a  Ladje  thai  is  of  price, 
1340    her  conlonr  is  red  as  rose  on  rise.' 
aU  this  cnntry  is  in  donbt 
flfor  a  Gyant  that  hight  Mangys,* 
there  is  noe  more  such  theenes  !^ 
1344         that  Jjodye  hee  lyeth  abont ; 

he  is  heathen,  as  blacke  as  pitch ; 
now  there  be  no  more  such 
of  deeds  strong  &  stont ; 
1348     what  Knight  iliat  passeth  this  brigg, 
his  armes  he  most  downe  ligg, 
&,  to  the  gyant  Lont.^ 


1352 


"  he  is  20  «  ffoote  of  lenght, 
&>  mnch  more  of  strenght 


'  Isle  Dor,  Fr.  Ylodor.— Cot.  II- 
deore. — Lam.  The  French  has  a  long 
description  of  the  Castle,  but  nothing 
about  the  giant  Mangys.  It  is  a  knight, 
MaJgiers  li  Gris  (p.  77),  who  there  de- 
fends the  entrance  to  the  castle ;  and  if  he 
conquers  every  comer  for  seven  years 
(or  nine  according  to  M.  Hippeau)  ho  is 
to  wed  La  Dame  aux  blanches  Mains. 
The  knight  has  killed  143  opponents, 


and  cut  their  heads  oif  (p.  71, 1.  19J 
when  he  is  overcome  by  Lybius. — F. 

*  sprig,  twig,  shrub,  Jun.  Lye. — P 
■  Maungys. — Cot. 

*  Nowhere  hys  pere  ther  nys. — Col 
Nowhfrc  is  non  suche. — Lam. 

'  MS.  Cot.  omits  the  next  twelve  lii 
— F. 

*  thirty. — Lam. 


UBIUB  DlflCONIUS.  465 

then  other  Knights  ffino. 
Sir  Lybias !  now  >  bethinke  thee,  <9w  «wm 

hee  i«  more  grixnmner  Sot  to  see  ^  <>fi^  ktm. 

ISM        then  any  one  aline ; ' 

he  beareth  haires  on  hie  brow 
like  the  brietlee  of  a  aow ; 

hie  head  is  great  A  etont ' ; 
IMO    cche  arme  is  the  lenght  of  an  ell, 
his  fliste  beene  great  &  ffell, 

dinte  (Tor  to  drine  about*' 


Sir  Lylnnt  said,  "  maiden  hend  !  LyUai  mn 

13*4    on  our  way  wee  will  wend 
ffbr  all  his  stroakee  ill 
if  god  will  me  grace  send,  oSrXip 

or  this  day  come  to  an  end  ^f*""" 

1348        I  hope  him  ffor  to  spill.^  uwd^^di. 

tho  I  be  young  &  lite,* 
I  will  him  sore  smyte, 
&  let  god  doe  his  will. 

1375  I  beseech  god  almight 

thai  I  may  see  with  him  ffight, 
that  giant  •  flbr  to  kill.'* 

then  they  rode  flbrth  all  3  hmt 

1376  mto  thai  flaire  cytye, 

men  call  itt  lie  dore  ^ ;  n,  ^-oiv 

anon  Mangy  can  they  see  tjtmj  «• 

Tpon  a  bridge  of  tree, 
1380        as  grimm  as  any  bon> ; 


'  v»ll.—  Laih.  h*  raiAlr  hmo  ttoiKle  ttTllr. 

*  That  tlkJO  vitb  bim  ne  nuMrhed  be«,  and  mnit«   lb**   last   th^p<>  lioM  of  iIm* 

llr  f  t[tjmm  to  DuKTjur. — Labi.  ManiA.     I^a.  <1<ip«  the  •mme,  atttrtOK 

•  irrr*r  m»  an  hrr*'.— Oil.  the  wurla  a  liillr.--  F. 
•(•'It   marru  Imtp  :  •  Ui4P.  littlf— I*. 

1  hatr  J-MjTB  STrt^  ^'^  *  MH.  in^nt.  -  F.     |P«llt,  q«. — P. 

Fail*  fofv  vjodM  ttrokra,  '  Yllrdufv.— CuC     lUdukwr.— Um. 


46(> 


UBirS   DISCOMUS. 


wiih  a  Mack 
nhicld, 


a  Kfioar 
ami  Hwonl. 


1384 


his  sheild  was  blacke  as  tcr  ' ; 
his  pay  trill,*  his  crouper,' 

3  mammctts  ^  there-in  were ; 
th6  were  gaylye  gilt  with  gold ; 
&  a  spcre  in  his  hand  he  did  hold, 

&  alsoo  his  sword  in  ffcre. 


ManfO'D  ^k" 
Lyiiiiw  who 

and  arlvii«r8 
him  to  turn 
book. 


Lybltu 


rrfuiNW. 


He  cryed  to  him  in  despite, 
1388     &  said,  '*  ffeUow,  I  thee  qnite !  ^ 
now  what  thou  art,  mee  tell ; 
&  tumc  agaiiie  al  soe  ^  tyte 
ffor  thine  owne  proffitt, 
1392        if  thou  lone  thy  sclfe  weU." 
Sir  Lybins  said  anon-right, 
*'  Kijig  Arthur  made  me  a  Knight, 
vnto  him  I  made  my  vow 
1396     that  I  shold  neuer  tume  my  backe 
ffor  noe  such  devill  in  blacke. 
goc !  make  thee  readye  now !  " 


[page  396] 


They  charge 


( fjonlii  and 
ladiuii 


Now  S/r  Lybius  &  Mangys, 
1 400     Of  horsses  ^  proud  of  price 

together  they  rode  full  right ; 
both  Itonh  &  Ladyes  there 
Lay  on  pount  tomere  • 
1 404         to  see  thai  scemlye  sight. 


'  tar. — F.  pcrhnps  as  AstcTf  Uaater, 
or  Aititr  18  a  word  ntill  ust^l  in  Shrop- 
shire*, nipnifyiiip  the  back  of  \\\v  chimney, 
"As  liliK'k  us  the  II aster"  is  a  common 
rzpn'SHion  with  tftem. — P.  pych. — Cot, 
pyeolio.— Lam.  Tho  Froncn  knighfs 
shield  is  Sinopfe,  grecne  colour  (in 
Blazon).— Cotgnivo : 
I>'8  oHCUH  a  Eiinople  estoit, 
Et  mains  Manccs  pamii  avoit  (p.  73). —  F. 

^  Puitrel,  ix^yinAyanti/ena :  Thcbreast- 
nrmonr  for  a  horse.    J«n. — P. 

*  iTo«j»ort'.--P. 

'  Mamnu't,   a   pnppet,  an   Image,   a 


false-god*     Jnn. — ^P.      One  stzuke  too 
many  in  the  MS. — F. 

•  Say,  ►on  felaw  yn  whyt. — Cot.  & 
Lam. 

•  MS.  alsoe.— F. 

•  On  Horses.— P.  On  stedes.--Cot  & 
Lam. 

"  ?  Pont  Tf/mere,  the  name  of  the 
bridge. — F. 

Leyn  ont  yn  poniet  tours. — Cot 

Laynen  in  her  tonres. — ^Lam. 

The  French  text  brings  them  all  cot 
of  the  castle,  except  Ia  Dame  snx 
blanches  Mains. — ^F. 


UBIU8   DI800HIV8.  467 

k  prmjed  to  god  loud  k  still,  pn^  «iu* 

"  if  that  itt  were  his  will, 

to  helpe  that  cristjrmn  Kiii^At ;  LjUm  ma^ 

1406    &  the  yile  Gjmimt  m^mji) 

thai  beleeaeth  in  Termagmnt, 
thai  he  might  dje  in  IBght !  *' 

theire  speres  brmke  assnnder,  TbHr 

14 15  their  stroakes  ffkred  as  the  thunder/ 

the  peeces  gmn  out  spring, 
enerj  man  had  great  wonder 
thai  Sir  Lybins  had  not  beene  yndor 

1416  att  the  flirst  bcgininge. 
anon  they  drew  sords  bothe ;  um^rsw 
as  men  thai  were  ffViU  wrothe, 

together  gan  they  dinge : 
I4f0    Sir  Lybins  smote  Mangyes  thoe  LjbiMcvii 

thai  his  sheild  (Tell  him  ffroe, 
in  the  ffeild  he  gan  itt  ffling. 


Maorprw 

•htaU; 


Maninres  gan  smite  in  thai  stead  Mancyvkuii 

I4S4     Sir  Lybins  horse  on  the  head, 


&  dashed  out  his  braine  ; 
his  horsse  fell  downe  dyinge. 
Sir  Lybins  sayd  nothing, 
USS         but  start  rp  againe  ; 

an  axe  in  his  hand  he  hent  anon  mmI  i^um 

thai  hunge  on  his  sadle  arson,* 

A  smote  a  stroake  of  niaine 
I4SS     through  Mangis  horsse  swin*,'  kukiuik 

earned  him  throng  long  ^  A  liner,* 

A  quitt  him  well  againe. 

'  Thr  6r>it  i^TX  of  thmndtr  i«  Moltrd  *  thmtiKh  lung-     P- 

lothrM.H    -  F.    doodrr.  ~Co(.    tboodrr.  *  1*.   haa  addMl  an   r  to   tb«  roil   of 

-  I^m  litur.  -  K. 

•  «fV'0   Fr.     i.e.  MMldlf-  bow.-  F.  fnfY-karf  bun  •nd  \yr*,-C%A, 

•  mwxtr,  •wrw,  tiM  n«*rk,     Ul.  ad  Ch.  furLinr*  buor  aad  l/f*.-  L««i. 

-  r. 


468 


UBIUS  DISCONIU8. 


woonditba 

OtiHTlMMlly, 


■ndthgy 

flebi  ttoBi 

■Izto 
flfTonaong. 


LyMosaikB 

MTBtOget 

toBiedruik. 


descriue  the  stroakes  cold  no  man 
1436     thai  were  ginen  betwene  them  then ; 
^  to  bedd  peace  was  no  boote  thoe ; 
deepe  wounds  there  they  canght, 
flfor  they  both  sore  fibught, 
1440         &  either  was  others  fibe. 
flBro :  the  hower  of  prime 
till  it  was  enensong  time, 
they  ffonght  together  thoe. 
1444     Sir  Lybins  thirsted  then  sore, 
&  sayd,  "  Mangyes,  thine  ore  ^  ! 
to  drinke  lett  me  goe ; 


'*  &  I  will  grant  to  thee, 
1448    what  lone  '  thou  biddest  mee, 
such  happe  if  thee  betyde. 
great  shame  itt  wold  bee 
a  Knt'^^t  ffor  thirst  shold  dye, 
1462         &  to  thee  litle  piyde." 


Mangya 
gives  it  him, 


bat  M  he 
licfl  down 
drinking 

Mangys 
knocks  him 
into  tlie 
river. 

Lybins  gets 
out. 


Mangies  granted  him  his  will, 
fibr  to  drinke  his  ffill 

Without  any  more  despite. 
1466     as  Sir  Lybius  lay  ouer  the  banke, 
through  his  helmo  he  dranke  ; 

Mangyes  gan  him  smite 
that  into  the  riuer  he  goes. 
1460     but  vp  anon  he  rose  ; 

wonderffull  he  was  dight 
with  his  armour  euery  deale ; 
"now  by  S!  Micaheel 
1464        I  am  twise  as  light ! 


'  It  was  no  boot  then  to  bid  (propose) 
peace. — P.  Cot.  and  Lam.  have  differ- 
ent lines. — F. 


•  morcy. — F. 

■  bone. — C.  &  Lam. 


LIBID8  DI8C01IIU8.  469 

what  weenest  thout  ffeend  fere  P  ud  toik 

that  I  vncbiratoned  were 
or  thoa  taw  itt  with  sight  P 
1446      I  shall,  ffor  thy  baptiaey  [p^tttr] 

well  qu[i]tte  thee  thj  aenrice,  heni  |mj 

by  the  g^raoe  of  god  almight.*'  ^ 

a  new  battell  there  began ;  rhn  Aght 

1471      either  ffast  to  other  ran,  *^ ' 

&  stroakee  gmae  with  might, 
there  was  many  a  gentleman, 
and  alaoe  Ladyee  as  white  as  swan, 
1476         they  prayed  all  ffor  the  Knight. 


but  Mangis  anon  in  the  ffeild  icmit* 

ciit«Lijrbliiir« 

earned  assonder  Sir  Lybins  sheild  litMii  in 


with  stroakes  of  armes  great. 


tiro. 


1460     then  Sir  Lybins  rann  away  LrMMicta 

thither  were  Mangis  sheild  Lay ;  -  -^" 

&  rp  he  can  itt  gott, 


&  ran  againe  to  him  '  ; 
1464      with  stroakes  great  and  grim 

together  they  did  aiwayle ;  ^^^  ^^ 

there  beside  the  wattcr  brimne  ^ 

till  it  waxed  wondcroos  dimm, 
1466  betweene  them  lasted  thai  battell.* 

Sir  Lybins  was  warryour  wight,  uii  LjrUa 

A  smote  a  stroke  of  much  might ; 
tliroQgh  hawberke,*  plate  and  maile, 
I4M      hee  smote  of  by  tlie  shoolder  bone  cvtaos 

his  right  armc  soonc  and  anon  ri«hi 

into  the  ffefld  with-out  fliiiU*. 


'  ihs*-  «frokr  too  mas/  in  MS.— F.  •  cmt  «if  suit,  thnt*  fimh  4  n«i/.  U 

'  l^tu/lc.  -P.  OMtl  buth  bj  Miliua  *  dpMorr.— 1». 


470 

flceK. 

LfliinH 
ptimioii  him, 
ami  cntfl  hln 
back  in  two, 


and  hlfl  head 
off. 


LybliiM  goes 
illtf>  tlic 
town, 


and  in 
nnvlvcl  by 
tin'  bcaiitiiul 
If  Hdam  do 
Aniioruiuv, 


LIBIU8  DISCOXIUS. 

*  when  the  gyant  //tat  gan  see 
1496      that  he  shold  sUiiiio  bee, 

hce  ffled  wtth  much  maine. 
S/r  Lybius  after  him  gan  hje, 
&  with  strong  stroakes  mighiye 
1500  smote  his  backo  in  twaine. 

thus  was  the  Gyant  dead  : 
Sir  Lybius  smote  of  his  head  ; 
then  was  the  jHJople  fiaine.* 
1504      S/r  Lybius  bare  the  head  to  the  towne  ; 
the  mett  him  wtth  a  fiaire  procession, 
the  people  came  him  againe. 

a  Ladyc  white  as  the  Lyllye  fflowor, 
1508      hight  Madam  de  Armoroure,' 
rcceiued  that  gentle  Knight, 
&  thanked  him  in  //tat  stoure 


>  TliP  Ashmolo  MS.  61  reads : 

Tho  pyant/'  ganr  to  ko 
Tlmt  Mrync  Hohuld  [he]  bo : 

Ho  Ht<xU*  to  fi'iise  A-3»'yiio, 
And  lit  )>o  Kivmal  Htniko 
Syiv  lylM'UH  to  liy//i  sniott', 

And  brnkr  hys  Arme  in  twcynf. 
Tin*  pj'Jint/"  Jv?r  lu'  leuyd, 
lybouM  HUiot/*  of  hys  hcde, 

ThoiY-of  he  was  full  feynf ; 
Ho  bore  \>e  hod  in-tu  )>u  toune. 
Wit  A  A  fryr«  proMOH»you?» 

Tho  folke  comtj  hym  A-jcnn. 
That  lady  was  whyte  As  flo\kTe 
That  men  callyd  dcnamowro. 

&c.  &c. 

*  glad. — P.  And  of  J»o  bataylc  was 
fayn. — Cot. 

■  The  French  text  has  a  glowinp  des- 
cription of  tho  lady's  beauty  (p.  78-9) : 

Ra  biaut6  tel  elarto  jeta, 
Quant  elc  ons  le  palais  entra, 
Com  la  hino  qu'itit  de  la  nue  .  . 
Plus  estoit  blanc*'  d'une  flor, 
Kt  d'une  vorniello  color 
Estoit  Ma  faro  enlumint^e: 
Moult  estoit  bole  ct  color^. 
Les  ools  ot  vair,  boco  riant, 


I/c  cors  bion  fiiiet  et  svenant ; 

Les  lovres  aroit  Termelletes, 
[one  Line  wantinff  in  the  MS.] 

Boice  bien  fiiite  por  hairier, 

£t  bras  bien  fais  por  embracer. 

Mains  ot  blances  com  flors  de  lis, 

Kt  la  gorges,  desoos  le  vis. 

Cors  ot  bien  fait,  et  le  def  Ulont; 

Onques  si  l>ele  n*ot  el  moot. 

£le  estoit  d*un  samit  restae, 

Onques  si  bele  n'ot  sous  nue, 

La  pene  en  fu  moult  bien  ouvr^ 

D'ormine  tote  escheker^ ; 

Moult  sont  bien  £iit  li  eschekier, 

Li  orles  fu  mout  a  prisier; 

£t  deriero  ot  ses  cnns  jet^ ; 

IVun  fll  d*or  les  ot  galon^ 

De  roses  avoit  i  capel 

Moult  avenant  et  gent  et  bel ; 

D'un  afremail  son  col  £rema, 

Quant  ele  ens  el  palais  entn. 

Molt  i  ot  gente  damoisele, 

Onques  nus  horn  ne  vit  tant  bele. 

La  dame  entre  el  palais  riant» 

Al  Desconn^u  Tint  derant  .  . 
There  is  a  further  description  of  her 
in  her  cemise  at  p.  84-5. — ^F. 

*  la  dame  damore. — Cot. 
la  dame  Amoore. — ^lam. 


UBIU8  DI8C05in8. 


471 


that  bee  wold  ber  succour 

1515  agaiiiBt  that  ffeend  to  flfight. 
into  the  chamber  shee  him  ledd, 
&  in  pnrple  &  pall  shoe  him  dedd, 

&  in  rich  royall  weede ; 

1516  &  prY>fferred  him  wtih  honor 
ffor  to  be  lord  of  towne  &  tower, 

&  her  owne  selfe  to  moede. 


wboeloChM 
him  In 

PMPK 


blm  hfT 


iMrwu* 


Sir  Ljlnot  flrened '  her  in  luuii, 
I5S0      k  lone  to  her  anon  be  cast, 

(Tor  shee  was  ilaire  and  shecne. 
alas,  ikat  bee  bad  not  beene  chast ! 
ffor  afterwards  att  the  Last 
15S4         shee  did  him  betraj  k  teene.' 
12  monthes  and  more 
Str  Lybios  tarryed  there,' 
&  bis  majden  with  renowne, 
tsss      thai  he  might  nener  out  scape 
ffbr  to  helpe  &  ffbr  to  wrake^ 
the  Ladye  of  Sinadone  ; 


IbffHw 
bi>lov». 


botite 
IwtnjtliiBi 

Ljbkm  lUjrt 
twvlw 


iTor  thai  ffairo  liody 

1 535  told  *  more  of  Sorcery 

then  such  other  flBuo ; 
shce  made  him  great  melodye, 
of  all  manner  of  mimttrclHje 

1536  thai  any  man  cold  discrccne. 


trfnlMbjr 
■urrvry. 


*  a*kMl.— P.    irrAaUae.— Cot. 

■  rnrmgr,  Tf«.  fhrvr.  01.  ftd  O.D. 

S.ll.  This  (ior«  not  apprar  frimi  aaj- 
kia«  vhk  h  follow  in  this  BaILmI  :  an- 
r«a  It  \f9  h*'r  tlHAininir  him  br  her 
rftrKAHiiiiriiu  io  thr«»  ■Unia*.  -   r. 

•  tbrf»  •<»  to  (luuie.  -P.  The  Krrwh 
C  -mftfu^  ^'^^T*  I'jhiat  wqIt  •  Dti{ht  io 
htf  <-A»t«^  Th«>  I^tly  oum«*«  to  him  in 
kef    h'CBiar.  IfiAii*  on  hit  br«««t : 

S.«  Biaa*>lrtt  fi  M  puitnnr 

Furrat  bUocrtt  ooflMM  flon  d'rapinr ; 


Se  li  ot  drtoii  ton  pis  mil.  (p.  86-6  \ 
8h«  <l*«irf«  hit  1ot<>.  He  vmotii  to 
ki««  her.  hut  sIm  drmvi  bark,  mi  that 
would  )>e  livheiy  till  he  had  marrird 
hrr.  and  learrs  his  rtion.  He  has 
tn>ul4r<l  drram*.  thiokinff  he  hi>liU  her 
all  Ditfht  in  hi«  ann«.  and  nest  morning 
he  reMilotf  It  ntle«  avar.  but  ret  urn*  after 
frerinif  the  \j^\j  of  Sina<l«iwnr.~  F. 

•  vrrak.  i.r.  rrTrnar.— P. 

•  for  cuW.  knrw.—V. 


472 


LIBIUS   DI8C0NIUS. 


for,  whra 
looking  on 

be  thiukB 
himfwlf  in 
raradiac. 


1540 


when  He  looked  on  her  fiace, 

him  thought  certainlye  thai  hee  was 

in  paradice  aline, 
with  ffantasye  and  fayiye; 
&  shoe  bleared  his  eye 

With  fialse  sorcerje. 


At  last, 
Hellcn  meets 
him, 

and 

rcproachee 
him 

with  hia 
faithk»imefla 
to  Arthur 


and  the  Lady 
of  Sinadon. 


Lybiofl  is 
tnnchod  to 
the  heart, 


and  they 
ridu  off  that 
night. 


Lybins 


15i8 

7?Parte.i 


makce  Sir 
Ocffclctt  his 
steward, 


[The  Seventh  Part.] 

till  itt  beffell  vpon  a  day 
I5i4        ^^  mett  With  Ellen  that  may 

betwene  the  Castle  and  the  tower ; 
Then  vnto  him  shoe  gan  eaj, 
'*  thou  art  ffalse  of  thy  &j  ^ 

vnto  King  Arthur ! 
ffor  the  loue  of  that  Ladye 
that  can  soe  much  curtesye, 
thou  docst  thee  dishonor ! 
1552    My  Ladye  of  Sinadon 
may  long  lye  in  prison, 
&  that  is  great  dolour !  *' 

Sir  Lybius  hard  her  speake, 
1556     him  thought  his  hart  wold  breako 
ffor  sorrow  &  ffor  shame. 
att  a  posteme  there  beside 
by  night  they  gan  out  ryde 
1560        ffrom  that  gentle  dame. 

hee  tooke  w/th  him  his  good  steede, 
his  sheeld  &  his  best  weede, 
&  rode  fforth  aU  in-same ; 
1564     &  the  '  steward  stout  in  ffere, 
ho  made  him  his  Squier, 
Sir  Geffelett '  was  his  name. 


Iv^ 


>  faith.— P.       *  Her.— Cot.    Hir.  -Lam.       '  Oyfflet.— Got    Onrikte.— I 


UBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


473 


they  rode  fforth  on  their  way, 
1568     but  lightly  on  their  loumey, 

on  bay  horsses  and  browne  ; 
till  itt  beffell  vpon  a  day 
they  saw  a  Citye  ffaire  and  gay, 
1572         men  call  itt  Sinadowne,* 
wi'th  a  Castle  hye  &  wyde, 
and  pauiUyons  of  much  pride 
thai  were  of  ffaire  ffashyon. 
1576     then  said  Sir  Lybius 

"  I  hane  ^  great  wonder  of  an  vse 
thai  he  saw  '  in  the  towne  ;  " 

they  gathered  dirt  &  mire  ffuU  ffast 
1580     which  beffore  was  oat  cast,* 
they  gathered  in  I- wis. 
Sir  Lybius  said  in  hast, 
"  tell  me  now,  mayd  chast, 
1584         what  betokeneth  this  ? 
they  take  in  all  their  hore  * 
thai  was  cast  out  beffore  ! 
methinke  they  doe  amisse." 
1588     then  sayd  Mayd  Ellen, 

"  Sir  Lybius,  without  Leasing 
I  will  tell  thee  why  itt  is. 

"  there  is  no  King  soe  well  arrayed, 

1592     tho  he  had  before  payd, 

thai  there  shold  take  ostell,^ 
ffor  a  dread  of  a  steward 
thai  men  call  Sir  Lamberd  ; 

1596        he  is  the  constable  of  the  Castle. 


and  they 
ride  on 


tUl  they 

aeeSina- 

downo. 


Lybius  asks 
whythQrare 


drawing  into 
the  city  the 
dirt  that 
was  before 
cast  out  of 
it: 


Whatdoci« 
it  mean? 


Hellcn 
answers 


that  no  one 
can  lodge 
there 


fur  fear  of 
Sir  Lamberd. 


synadowne. — Cot.  Lam.      La    CiU 
itf  is  the  French  name  of  Sinadowne ; 
this   preliminary  castle  is  called 
iaans. — F. 
He  had  (or). 

I  see.— P.     The  Cotton  MS.  reads : 
Bat  lybeaus  desconus 

roL.  II.  I  1 


He  hadde  wonders  of  an  vus 
M  he  saw  do  yn  toune. 

•  For  gore,  and  fen,  and  full  wast. 
That  there  was  out  y-kast. — Cot. 

•  Sax.  horh,  fimus,  scruta,    plilegma. 
limus,  Bens.  Voc. — ^P. 

•  Fr.  hostdf  hospitium,  Domus. — P. 


UBTDS  DI8CC 

but  ride  into  the  C 
&  Bske  tbiue  mne 

botb  Skireand  ' 

1600     &  or  he  bidd  thee 

lasting  he  wiU  thi 

b;  god  &,  by  S.' 


"  A  if  he  beare  tbi 

1604     bifl  tminpetta '  shi 

tiieir  beangles  * 

then  oaer  all  this 

both  mayd  &  gan 

1606        bat  dirt  on  thee 

&  bnt  thon  thithe 

ynto  thy  lines  end 

cowarde  thoa  al 

161S     &  Boe  maj  King  i 

losae  all  his  great 

for  thy  deeds  si 


Sir  Lybins  sayd, ' 

1616    thither  I  will  goe 

if  I  be  man  on 

ffor  to  doe  Arthoi 

&  to  make  that  Lt 

1630         to  him  I  will  di 

Sir  Geffelett,  mak 

&  lett  vB  now  goe 

anon  that  wee  t 

1634    they  rode  fforth  oi 

till  they  came*  to 

That  was  of  gw 


'  Tnimpettera.— P. 
'  bogles.  hmitiDK  honii ;  from  bugle, 
K  wild  boll,  Lje.— P. 


LIBIU8  DISOOSaUS. 


475 


A  there  they  asked  Ostell 
1618     in  thai  ffaire  Castell 

fibr  a  yentaroiiB  knight, 
the  porter  ffaire  &  well 
lett  them  in  ffuU  snell, 
163S        &  anked  anon-righti 

"  who  IB  jour  gouemor  P  *' 
they  sajd,  '*  King  Arthnr, 
a  man  of  mnch  might 
lt»     to  he  a  king  he  is  worthje, 
he  in  the  f&ower  of  Chioaliye, 
his  ffone  to  ffcll  in  ffight" 


•ndAikfor 
lodcinf. 


TiMpoctv 


•■In  wbo 
tbfir 
OoTcrnor  la. 

Arthnr, 


tbeflowvoC 
chiTaLryl" 


the  porter  went  without  fiable 
1640    to  hia  lord  the  Constable, 
&  this  tale  him  told : 
*'  Sir,  wi'thont  any  ffable, 
of  Arthors  ronnd  table 

1644  be  oomen  2  knights  bold, 
the  one  is  armed  ffoll  snro 
with  rich  &  rojall  armonre, 

with  3  Lyons  of  gold.'* 

1645  the  Lon/  was  gladd  <Jb  blythe, 
A  said  to  tliem  ffull  swythc, 

lust  with  them  hce  wold : 


TiMpoctv 


LMnbnd 


ttettwoof 

Anhnr'a 

knlftiUluiw 


LAtnbrfd 
Mjiibry 


**  bidd  them  make  them  yaro ' 

1655  into  the  ffveld  ffor  to  ffaro 

wi'thout  the  Castle  gate.** 
the  porter  wold  not  stent,' 
but  euen  anon  went 

1656  to  them  liglitlye  att  the  yatc*, 
A  Siiyd  anon-right4»A, 

**yee  aduenturous  knif;lit««, 


mwly  to 
•gtn 


TlMpon«r 


irlU  tlMm 


r»-*lf .  .* 


11  J 


*  •tint,  ttcipw-   r. 


476 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


flfor  nothing  that  yee  Lett ; 
1660    Looke  jour  sheelds  be  good  &  strong, 
&  jouT  speres  good  and  long, 
Bbeild,  plate,  &  Basnett, 


torMp  into 
the  field, 
and  hi* 
lofdwUl 
light  them. 


Thqr  ridein, 
and  wait  for 

Lamberd, 


"  &  lydc  yon  into  the  flfeild ; 
1664     mj  Lord  with  speare  and  sheild 
anon  with  you  will  play." 
Sir  Lybins  spake  words  bold, 
&  said,  *'  this  tale  is  well  told, 
1668         &  pleasant  to  my  pay.'  " 
into  the  feld  the  rode, 
&  boldlye  there  abode 
in  their  best  array.' 
1672     S[ir]  Lamberd  armed  flFull  weele 
both  in  Iron  and  in  Steele 
that  was  both  stout  &  gay  ; 


whoie  shield 


i>  black, 


hill  armoor 
too. 


Two  flqnires 
attend  him, 


his  sheeld  was  sure  &  ffine, 
1676     3  bores  heads  was  thcrin 

as  blacke  as  brond  brent,' 
the  bordurc  was  of  rich  armin, — 
there  was  none  soe  quent  *  a  ginn  * 
1680         ffrom  Carlile  into  Kent, — 
&  of  the  same  paynture 
was  his  paytrell  &  his  armoure. 
in  lando  where  euer  he  went, 
1684     2  squiers  wi'th  him  did  ryde, 
&  bare  3  speares  by  his  side 
to  deale  w/th  doughtye  dint. 


1688 


then  that  stout  stewared 
that  hight  S/r  Lamberd 


•  liking.— P. 

*  As  best  brojt  to  bay. — C. 

As  bestis  brought  to  baye. — Lam. 


*  i.e.  burnt  brand. — P. 

*  quent,  queint. — P. 

*  ginne,  trick,  contriTance. — P. 


LIBIUS    DISCONIDS. 


477 


armed  him  ffull  well  &  bright, 
&  rode  into  the  fieild  ward — 
flfeircely  as  any  Libbard — 
1692  there  abode  him  thai  knight. 

him  tooke  a  speare  of  great  shape ;  * 
he  thought  he  came  to  Late, 
when  he  him  saw  with  sight, 
1696      soone  he  '  rode  to  him  that  stond 
wtth  a  speare  that  was  ronnd, 
as  a  man  of  much  might. 


and  he  rides 
into  the 
field  as  fieroe 
as  a  leopard. 


Lybius 
charges  him, 


Either  smote  on  others  sheeld 
1700      that  the  peeces  fiell  in  the  ffeild 
of  theire  speares  long, 
enery  man  to  other  tolde 
"  that  yonnge  Knight  is  ffull  bold." 
1704  to  him  with  a  speare  he  fflounge ; 

Sir  Lamberd  did  stifflye  ssitt ; 
he  was  wrath  out  of  his  witt 
ffor  Ire  and  ffor  teene,^  [page  840] 

1708     &  sayd,  "  bring  me  a  speare  ! 
ffor  this  Knight  is  not  to  Lere, 
soone  itt  shalbe  seene.*'  * 


and  both 
shatter  their 
spears. 


then  they  tooke  shaftes  round, 
1712     with  crownalls  sharpe  ground, 
&  ffast  to-gether  did  run  ; 
either  proued  other  in  that  stond 
to  give  either  theire  deaths  wound, 
1716         with  harts  as  ffeirce  as  any  Lyon. 
Lamberd  smote  Sir  Lybius  thoe 
that  his  sheeld  ffell  him  ffroe 


They  charge 
again  with 
fresh  spears. 


Lamberd 

knocks 

Lybios's 


•  He  smote  hys  ^haft  yn  grate. — C. 
He  sette  his  shelde  in  grate. — Lam. 

•  LybeauuB. — C.     Lybeous. — Lam. 

•  anger,  madness,  vexation . — P. 


He 


cryde,    "Do  come  a   strangertf 
schaft ! 
5yf  artoups  knyjt  kan  craft, 
Now  hyt  schall^  be  sene.—  Cot. 


-i7- 


LIBXUS   DZJCOSIUsw 


'  '.  jrj  .   '  ^  \'jk. 


1:1:0  :::e  zei-i  a-dc-'aiT.c  : 
vprl^:.:  in  Lis  arsownie,* 


T.7-- -*—■:, 
La.-.-,  ■'rrl  » 


..."  "ic^A.  ■  -•: 


L:i  ih-ift  brake  w  in  gT>eat  power. 
I7i4      St'r  Lvb::i=  Liu  Lim  on  tLe  visor 
/.'-••:  of  went  Lis  Leline  brigLt : 
the  f-eaanve,'  ventavle,*  A  e»jraeT*,* 
w:'tb  the  L^Ime  d£ew  fibrth  in  fere, 
172-  A  S  r  Lacil<-nl  vj-rlirbt 

rav-  r.-^kir. ;:?'''  in  bis  sadle 
a.-  a  chvM  in  a  cradle 
^v'tLout  miiine  h  miebt. 
1732      eu».'r;r  nian  to.-ke  other  by  tbe  bippe, 

h  laughed  and  gan  tbeir  bands  clappe. 
V^rron,  Bar^-sse,  and  Kni'^/At. 


Lvr.Vrl 


Lybi'Jri 


S'r  Lambcrd,  be  tbongbt  to  silt  bett ; 
1730      another  belme  be  made  to  ffett,' 
h  a  abaft  fiall  meete. 

<fc  when  tbev  together  mett, 

eitlier  other  on  their  belmes  sett 
1740  Strokes  giim  <fc  great. 

tlien  S('r  Lamberds  speare  bnist, 

&  Sir  Lvbins  sate  soe  fiast 


•  «oar<-<.-ly, — P. 

'•'  ^iiilill«:.--P.     ar«»ouii. — C 

'  jj\ -am.-.—  r.  j^hJiLi*', — Liim.  In 
Th  Aitf"rM  0/  Arthur,  hi.  xlv.  t-d.  Rob- 
son,  i».  21,  i>: 

He  L'inlus  to  Svr  (jauiitio 
Throjlj*'  vi'ijfayll*-  and  pumne  ; 
(»n  wliich  l>r.  Hol'son  ol'M-n-cs,  p.  99, 
"  Thi"*  was  cithtT  llic  (lOi^ret  or  :i  .sul»sti- 
lut«-  lor  if.  In  the  Acts  of  Pdrliament 
«.f  Scotland  (anno  1420)  vol.  ii.  p.  8, 
it  in  onlurc-d  that  every  one  worth  2o/. 
a  year,  or  100/.  in  njoveable  go<ide«,  'he 
wt-ie  horbit  and  buill  enurm^'t  as  a  gen- 


till  man  aucht  to  be.  And  other  eym- 
I>illan'  of  X  lib.  of  rent,  or  L  lib'  in 
gudos  haif  hat,  gorg<e«t  or  pttaune,  vitb 
rerebrarares,  Tambrasarps,  and  ^afiH  of 
plate,  breast  plate,  and  leg  splente*  at 
the  lest,  or  better  gif  him  Skea.'"— F. 

*  ancntayle.— C.  rentail^Theltoof 
the  Helmet  which,  lifta  up.    Johns. — ^P. 

»  Gorgere,  id.  ac  Goiget.  The  Pieee 
of  Almoin  which  defends  the  throst 
Johns. — ^P. 

*  One  stroke  too  many  in  this  woxd  in 
the  MS.— F. 

'  fett,  fetch.— P. 


L1BIU8   DI8C01IID8. 


479 


in  tho  saddle  there  bee  >  8eti| 
1744     that  they  Constable  Sir  Lamberd 
ffell  of  hia  borsae  backward, 
■oe  sore  they  there  mett. 

Sir  Lamberd  was  ashamed  sore. 
1748     Sir  Ljbios  asked  if  he  wold  more.' 
he  answered  and  said  "  nay  ! 
ffor  sithe  thai  ener  I  was  bore, 
saw  I  nener  here  beffore 

1755  none  ryde  soe  to  my  pay ! 
by  the  faith  thai  I  am  in, 

then  art  come  of  Sir  Gawayincs  kin, 
then'  art  soe  stont  and  g^y. 

1756  if  then  wilt  ffight  fibr  my  Ladye, 
welcome  thou  art  to  mcc, 

by  my  troth  I  say  !  " 


Lambenl, 


•ndaiki 
himifht 

wmntaany 

more. 

-  No.-  MJt 


**TOQmaitte 
of  GttwaliMrt 
blood; 

wiUyoa 
flffhttor 


"OKtaiiOyl 

wUL 


Sir  Lybios  sayd,  **  sikerlye 
l7eo     I  will  ffight  for  my  Ladye ;  * 

I  pivmised  soe  to  Kimj  Arthur ; 
but  I  ne  wott  how  ne  why 
who  docs  her  ihii  villaiiyc, 
1 764         ne  what  is  her  dolor ; 

but  this  maid  thai  is  her  mcsenger, 
certes  has  brought  me  hero 
her  ffor  to  succour.** 
I76g     Sir  Lambi*rd  said  in  thai  stond 

"  welcome.  Sir  Kni^At  of  the  table  round,    bi«  u>hk 
into  my  utrong  tower  !  ** 

then  mayd  Ellen  anon- righ tea 
1771     was  ffeitched  fforth  with  o  KfiiyAtji 


nnirahM 

bruofht  MM 
hrrptfubtip 


LAmbnd 


*  <  *mr  tinikc  tuu  mABv  in  Uitu  wonl  m 

^f«  Ijmmmmrt  go  to  Lybius  »n>l  *rtjr 
•   Mrt.     UA'tX,  ••  V».  <ir«CrlHir«  , 
Vmr  drml  mtim  \\Mr\  r«*Oi|Qia  . 
\'*M  fiitrk  a  TV  d«Ti«/ 


thrn  t-Bif>n»4>0  llcUro  or  IMu,  «m*\  Ank 
ht-r  what  *hr  liidtAt  Artkuf'st'vittn)    -K. 

'  A  1*  t(rr  i«  citMMnJ  uat  »t  th«*  vikI  of 
thi«  «unl  lu  tbr  US.  -  F. 

*  ff'jr}!/  r  PchAlU  for  a  Udj.-  C. 
ffight  jr  •hall  fur  ihj  bdjrv.— Iam 


480 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


ITellen  and 
the  Dwarf 
are  fetched 
in. 


and  relate 

LybIun*H 

adventurer. 


beffore  Sir  Lamberd. 
shee  &  the  dwarffe  by-deene 
told  of  G  battells  ^  keene 
1776         that  ho  had  done  thitherward 
the  sayd  that  Sir  Lybius  then 
had  ffought  with  strong  men, 
&  beene  in  stowers  hardye. 
1780     then  they  were  glad  &  blythe, 
&  thanked  god  alsoe  sithe  * 
that  he  were  soe  mightye. 


Lybins  and 
Laml)onl 
talk  of  old 
)icroc8. 


Lybins  tu^ks 
what  knight 
has  im- 
prinono*!  the 
Lady  «»f 
Hiumlowne. 


they  welcomed  him  with  mild  cbeere, 
1784     &  sett  them  to  supper 

w/th  much  mirth  and  game. 
S/r  Lybius  &  Sir  Lamberd  in  ffere 
of  ancyents  that  beffore  were 
1788         talked  both  in^-same. 

Sir  Lybius  sayd,  "  with-ont  ffable/ 
tell  me  now.  Sir  Constable, 
what  is  the  K.nightB  name 
1792     that  hath  put  in  prison 
my  Ladye  of  Sinadon 

that  is  soe  gentle  a  dame  ?  " 


[page  34 


"No  knight; 


bnt  two 
clerk>. 


fiorrorcrs, 
named 


S/r  Lamberd  said,  "  soe  mote  I  gone, 
1796     K/i/f/ /its  there  beene  none 

that  dare  her  away  Lead ; 

2  Clarkes  beene  her  ffone, 

ffull  ffalse  in  body  &  in  bone, 
1800         thai  hath  done  this  deed. 

they  be  men  of  Masterye 

their  artes  ffor  to  reade  of  SorceryeJ; 


'  Tolcle  Bcvcn  (lodes. — Cot. 
^  felc    sydo.— C.      folo    pythe. — I^m. 
S  wit  he*  is  quickly. — F. 


»  im  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  There  is  none  of  this  in  the  Eren* 

-F. 


UBics  Duoomus. 


481 


Mabam '  th6  bight  one  in  dcode, 
ifCM     A  Iron  bight  tho  other  yerelje,' 
cla[r]ckc8  '  of  Nigromancje, 
of  them  wee  baoe  great  dread. 

**  this  Mabam  &  Irowne 
irMie    baoo  made  in  the  towne 

a  palace  of  qoent  gin  ^  ; 
there  ia  no  Erie  ne  barron 
Mat  baa  hart  as  Lyon 

1815  ihai  dare  come  therin ; 
itt  ia  aU  of  the  fiaierje 
wrought  by  Nigromancye, 

iKai  wonder  it  ia  to  winne. 

1816  there  thej  keepe  in  prison 
my  Ladye  of  Sinadowne, 

thai  IB  of  KnighiB  kinn.* 

'*  oftentimes  wee  her  crye ; 
18<0    ffor  to  see  *  her  with  eye, 

therto  we  bane  no  might, 
this  Mabam  A  Iron  tmlye 
had  sworcne  to  death  trulye 
18S4         her  death  fibr  to  dight, 
bat  if  shoe  grant  vntiU 
flbr  to  do  Mabams  will, 
&  giao  him  all  her  right 
Iii8     (if  all  thai  Dukedome  fiayre, 
thorof  is  my  ladye  heyru 
/A<it  is  Mw  mach  of  might. 

**  hIic^o  in  soc  meeke  A  mm?  flaire  ; 
183S     t)it*rfon.'  wee  bo  in  disjiayre 


And  Iron, 


carknu 
palao*  that 
Boooedara 


Mit't 

wriMight  bj 


and  Uwn 

tiwykivptba 

Ladjuf 


and  wfU  pot 
her  tu  Jaatli, 


ffTMBplMV 

dukNli«i  tfU 
MalMi. 


•   Stt  Ma».>an/.— (\ 
•XT  Iravo  bja  t'rt»K^. 

•    t  UHlr«.       P 


— C     Irmjme. 


*  Curiuoa  cuntnTaarr.'^I*. 

*  Th<*  m  i«  matltfi  «>Trr  an  #.  «ir  rinr 

frr#il.  in  Ihr  MS.      K. 

*  A  V  fullov*  attd  i«  Cflwa^i  <iiit.     F. 


482 


UBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


Lybios  sajs 
ttaiat  by 
Jcsus'b  help 


hell  cnt  off 
the  hends  of 
Mabam  and 
Iron, 


and  rostoro 
the  lady  to 
her  rights. 


Then  they 
sup; 

and  many 
como  to 


hear  about 
Lybios, 


and  listen  to 
him. 


ffor  tlie  dolour  thai  sliees  in.'* 
then  sajd  Sir  Lybios, 
"  through  the  helpe  of  lesus 
1836        that  Ladye  I  will  winne ; 
&  Mabam  &  Iron, 
smite  of  there  anon 

theire  heads  in  thai  stoure, 
1 840     &  wine  that  Lady  bright, 
&  bring  her  to  her  right 

With  ioy  &  much  honor."  * 

then  there  was  no  more  tales  to  tell 
1844     in  thai  strong  Castle. 

to  supp  &  make  good  cheere,' 
the  Barrens  &  Burgesse  all 
came  to  thai  seemlye  hall 
1848        ffor  to  listen  &  heare 

how  Sir  Lybius  had  wrought; 
&  if  the  'Knighi  were  ought, 
his  talking  for  to  harke.' 
1852     they  ffound  them  sitting  in  ffere 
talking,  att  their  supper,^ 
of  Kniyhis  stout  and  starke. 


*  C.  omits  the  next  twelve  lines,  (and 
alters  many  before). — F. 

*  Tho  was  no  more  tale 


I  the  Castell  grete  and  smale. 
But  stouped  and  made  hym  bljthe. 
— Lam. 
'  His  crafte  for  to  kythe. — ^Lam. 


UBIO0  OI8COHIU8. 


483 


[The  Eighth  Part.] 

[Of  LjUw't  AdrenUrM  in  SbiadowBe,  and  how  heeonqiiflrttlieLadj't  EochAnten.] 


1860 


&,  after  they  went  to  rest, 
18M    &  iooke  their  likoing>  as  them  list' 
in  thai  Castell  aU  night. 
^K)n  the  morrow  anon-right 
Sir  LjbiiiB  was  armed  hright ; 

fireah  he  was  to  flight. 
Sir  Lamberd  led  him  algate  ' 
right  ynto  the  Castle  g^te ; 
open  they  were  flfnll  right ; 
i$e4        no  man  dnnt  him  neere  bringe 
flforsooth,  with-ont  Leasing, 
Barron,  Burgess,  ne  Knt^At, 


»'.paite< 


AUfOtobtd. 


Next 


LamlMfd 


Lyblato 
the 


batnovMUi 
dam  go  la 
wUhhlB. 


Bot  tamed  home  againe. 
ises    Sir  Oefflet  his  owne  swaine  ^ 
wold  with  him  rjde, 
but  Sir  Ljrbins  flfor  certaine 
Sajd  he  shold  backc  againe,*        (pni*  ms] 
187S        and  att  homo  abjdo. 

Sir  GcfHett  againe  gan  rjde  * 
with  Sir  Lamberd  ffor  to  abydo ; 
A  to  Icsn  Christ  thcj  *  cryed, 
U7S     flfor  to  send  them  tydings  gladd 
of  them  thai  lung  had 

di  stroyed  their  welthes  wyde. 


Bi>«|ali« 
wAnUto, 


bat  LtUim 
fuibkU 


All  i«my  for 
tkmmtnjtnn* 


o&iv  half  tlM  ■  in  tiie  MS.— F. 
►•'  t«4r  Ky*  barr  mtr. 
In  lvkrR|{r  ••  hrm  lr«l#.— C 
Tb'/t<Af>  thrjr  c««r  aiKl  Kr«tr. 
Axi-1  UkyD^ra  uf  tb«  twntr.     Ltm. 
ml  All  tTt&ta.  I*jr  All  mr«l»B.  -   P. 


to  Ljliia*  what  be  will  •ct,  ami  wb«t 
b€>  IB  to  tlt>,  in  /W  C'«/#  (iiuU,  (p.  IIS- 
IWU.     K. 

*  ^outb,  M-rvant.     Jao.->  P. 

*  Yb*   ('••«li*0  trtt   Biakr*  OwMHI  rfop 

at  tlu  ra*tU.  L  17M.     K 

*  K.  tbr  Pmpb.— P. 


484 


LIBIUS   DISCOMIUS. 


Lybim 
intotlw 


I  boms* 
hean  mosie, 
modrnM 
afarigbt  fire. 


Lybina  ridei 
fertberin, 


Str  Lybins,  Knight  cnrteons, 
880     rode  into  that  prond  palace,* 
&  att  tlie  hall  he  light, 
tnunpetts,  homes,  &  shaumes '  jwis 
he  ffound  beflfore  the  hye  dese,' 
1884         he  heard,  &  saw  with  sight. 

a  ffayre  flyer  there  was  stout  A  stowre 
in  the  midds  of  the  flore, 
brening  ffaire  and  bright.* 
1888     then  ffiirther  in  hee  yeed, 

&  tooke  with  him  his  steede 
tliat  helped  him  to  ffight. 


mod  can  see 


nothing 


Imtminstzda 


with  their 
harps,  &c., 
all  playing, 


and  a  torch 
l)cf ore  every 
man. 


LybioB 


can't  find 
any  one  to 
fight, 


finrthermore  he  began  to  passe, 
1892     &  beheld  then  euerye  place 
all  about  the  hall ; 
of  nothing,  more  ne  lesse, 
he  saw  no  body  that  there  was, 
1896         but  minstrells  cladde  in  pall, 
with  harpe,  flSdle  &  note,* 
&  alsoe  with  Organ  note, — 
great  mirth  they  made  all, — 
1900     &  alsoe  fiddle  and  sautrye  ^ ; 
soe  much  of  minstrelsye 
ne  say  '  he  neuer  in  hall. 

before  euery  man  stood 
1904     a  torch  ffayre  and  good, 
brening  ffull  bright. 
S/r  Lybius  Euermore  yode  ^ 
ffbr  to  witt  ®  w/th  Egar  mood 
1908         who  shold  w/th  him  ffight. 


*  The     French     text     describes     the 
palace,  p.  101. — F. 

'  shaumes,  a  Psaltery ;  a  Musical  In- 
stnimrwt  like  a  Harp.    Chau.  Gl. — P. 
'  Dese,  Deis.    The  high  table.— P. 

*  Was  lyjt  &  brende  bryjt. — C. 


That  tente  and  brende  bright, — Lm 

*  rote. — C.     lut«  and  roote. — Lam. 

*  a  Psaltery,  vid.  Supra. — P. 
'  saw. — P. 

*  went. — P. 

*  know. — P. 


LIBIC8   DI8C0NIU8. 


485 


boo  went  into  all  tho  oomora, 
A  Iwhcld  tho  pillars 

thai  seemcljo  *  were  to  sight ; 
1912     of  lasper  ffine  A  Cristall, 

all  was  fflourishcd  in  tho  hall ; 

itt  was  ffuU  ffaire  &  bright. 

the  (lores  were  all  of  brasse, 
1916     <Jb  tho  windowes  of  fiaire  glasse, 
thai  jmagjTje  itt  was  driue. 
the  hall  well  painted  was ; 
noe  fiaircr  in  noe  place ; 
1920         mamelous  fibr  to  descrine. 
bee  sett  him  on  the  bye  desc  : 
then  the  minstrells  were  in  peace 
ihtii  made  the  mirth  soe  ghj, 
1924     the  torches  thai  were  soe  bright 
were  qnencbed  anon- right, 

&  the  minstrells  were  all  away  ; 

the  dores  A  the  windowes  all, 
I9KS     the  l)ett  '  together  in  the  hall 

as  it  were  KtrokcH  of  thunder ; 
the  Htones  in  the  Ciu<tle  wall 
about  him  downe  gan  fiull ; — 
I93i         thereof  he  hod  grt*at  wonder; — 
the  c*artli  liegan  to  ((uak(% 
&  the  dene  ffor  to  Mhiiki* 

thai  was  him  there  vnndcr  *  ; 
1936     the  hall  In^gan  for  to  brt'ake, 
A  MM*  did  the  wall  eke, 

thry  idiold  flull  aKsunder. 


but  only 


bnmdoon, 
kc.. 


In  tlw 
dMvmted 

baU. 


He  Mto  oo 

ttrdak, 

AImI  tttOOO0 

th«torciiei 
guoat. 


the 

mimtrds 

ranlflh. 


th^<lnoni 


all  tbeMtOIHW 

of  thr  «•!! 
fall  (limD, 

tbrivrtb 


tht  hall  aiMl 
walU  t«^ii 
luiratk. 


as  1h*  sato  thus  diicniavd, 
194ii     he  held  himHelfe  lietmvd. 


In  linr  1910  ifi  the  MS.^l'. 


•  TbcT  U  ai.  -  r. 


tiK  rt  «id«-.—  V- 


486 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


Then  he 
hcorrt  hones 
noiffh.    Ho 
nayn  then»*B 
nimc  one  to 
fiK'ht, 
and 


two  men  of 
amia 

well  arrayed. 


One  rides 
into  the 
hall, 
and  tollfl 
Lybiufl  he 
mupt  flght 
them. 


Ly  bills 

1»  quite 
willing, 


monntri, 


then  horses  heard  hee  naj : 
to  himselfe  then  he  sajd, 
"  now  I  am  the  better  apajd, 
1944         for  yett  I  hope  to  play." 

hee  looked  ffoiih  into  the  ffeild, 
saw  there  with  speare  and  sheild  > 
men  of  armes  tway,* 
1948     in  pnrple  &  pale  armoure 

well  hamished  in  that  stonre, 
with  great  garlands  gay. 

The  one  came  ryding  into  the  hall, 
1952     &  to  him  thus  gan  call, 

"  S/r  K.n{ghi  adnenturons  ! 
such  a  case  there  is  befall ; 
tho  thou  bee  proude  in  pall, 
1956         ffight  thou  must  with  vs. 
I  hold  thee  quent  of  ginne  ' 
if  thou  my  Ladye  winno  * 
thai  is  in  prison." 
1960     S/r  Lybius  sayd  anon-right, 
"all  ffresh  I  am  ffor  to  ffight, 

with  the  helpe  of  goddes  sonne." 

Sir  Lybyus  with  good  hart 
1964     ffast  into  the  saddle  he  start ; 
in  his  hand  a  speare  he  hent» 

&  ffeircly  he  rode  him  till, 

his  enemyes  ffor  to  spill ; 
1968         ffor  thai  was  his  entent. 


tpageMS] 


'  There  is  a  stroke  between  the  e  and 
i  in  thi-  MS.— R 

*  The  French  postpones  tho  darkness, 
&c.,  and  makes  Lybius  first  see  and  fight 
a  sinplo  knight  (p.  103,  Eurains  lifierSj 
p.  119),  and  put  him  to  flight ;  then  fight 
anotlier  {Maoons,  p.  1 19),  on  a  horse  with 
a  horn  in  his  forehead,  and  fire  shooting 
out  of  his  nostrils,  (p.  106-8).  Then 
conies  the  darkness,  and  a  horrible  noise ; 


Lybius  thinks  of  La  DamdMeOe  ata 
blances  nutint,  and  commends  himself 
to  Qod;  the  Wtvre  (Lat  v^^era)  aj^esrSf 
comes  near  him,  aiid  kissca  hun ;  he  is 
stupefied ;  a  voice  tells  him  who  he  is; 
ho  dreams ;  and  on  waking  sees  the 
lovely  Esmeree,  who  tells  him  her  sUny. 
— F. 

•  clover  of  contrivanoa.— P. 

*  wime  MS.— F. 


LIBIU8  DISCOHIUS. 


487 


1972 


1976 


1980 


19$4 


I9M 


I99S 


199« 


but  when  they  had  together  mett, 
cither  on  others  helme  eett 

with  Bpearee  dongh^e  dent. 
Mabam  his  speare  aU  to-brast ; 
then  was  Mabam  eoill  agast, 

A  held  him  shameffuUj  shent. 

A  With  ihai  stroke  ffelowne  ' 
Sir  Ljbins  bare  him  downe 

oner  his  horsse  tajle ; 
ffor  Mabams  saddle  arsowne 
brake  there>with,  &  fell  downe 

into  the  ffeild  without  ffajlo. 
well  nje  he  had  him  slone ; 
bnt  then  came  rjding  Iron 

In  a  good  hawberko  of  majle ; 
aU  ffresh  he  was  to  ffight, 
A  thought  he  wold  anon-right 

Sir  Ljbins  assayle. 


juoo 


Sir  Ljbins  was  of  him  ware, 
ft  speare  vnto  him  bare, 

&  led  his  brother  still, 
snch  a  stroke  he  g^ue  hime  thoro 
tkai  his  hawbcrke  all  to-tore ; 

Mat  liked  him  flaU  ilL 
their  speares  brake  in  2  ; 
swords  gan  thej  draw  tho 

with  hart  grim  and  gnll,' 
A  stifflje  gan  to  other  ffight ; 
("ithcr  on  Other  proaed  their  might, 

eche  other  flur  to  spill. 

then  together  gan  thej  how. 
Mabam,  the  more  shrew,' 


■kircnhk 


•nd  beat 

OTVllll 

homruua 
bfhjtdm. 


kUtod. 
tmtthat 
Iron  tUmek* 
Lybios. 


wiMiidMai 
him. 


hb  luulicrk. 


thatrtwonb. 


UHthrwM 


*  it  Um  ttrvkr.  i.«.  a  nardrrmi*  utrukr. 

*  firm  ftc  smljr.    01  mi  Ch.     V. 


bcrv  It  Mt't'tuM  to  Mgiuf/  fthffvU,  nianinir. 
•fUul.     1*. 


488 


UBIUS   DISGONIUS. 


Mabam 
gets  up, 


and  attacks 
LybiuH  too, 


hnt  he 

hiiiiM'lf  like 
a  man. 


Mahnm  (t.i. 
Iron) 


chopn  off 
Lyl)iiifl'ii 
(jiteud'M  nock. 


LyhinR  cntn 
IronV  thigh 
in  two, 


dismounts. 


nnd  fl^htii 
MalMUU. 


The  ppurkd 

fly. 


yp  he  rose  againe ; 
he  heard  &  alsoe  knew 
Iron  gaue  strokes  fiew ; 
2004         thcrof  he  was  not  fiaine ; 

but  to  him  lie  went  finll  right 
ffor  to  hclpo  Iron  to  flight, 

&  auenge  him  on  his  enemje. 
2008     tho  ho  wore  nener  soe  wroth, 

Sir  Lybius  fought  against  them  both 

and  kept  himselfe  manlje. 

when  Mabam  saw  Iron,' 
2012    he  Sought  as  a  Ljon 

tho  k»/r//<t  to  slay  with  wreake. 
bcfibre  his  fiardar  arsowne 
soone  he  earned  then  downe 
2016         S/r  Lybius  steeds  necko. 

Sir  Lybius  was  a  worthy  warryour, 
&  smote  a  2  his  thyo  ^  in  that  stonre, 
skine,'  bone,  and  blood. 
2020     then  helped  him  not  his  clergye, 
neither  his  fialse  Sorcerye,* 

but  downe  ho  fiell  with  sorry  moode. 

Sir  Lybius  of  his  horsse  alight, 
2024     with  Mabam  fibr  to  flight, 
in  tho  fieild  both  in  ffere 

strong  stroakes  they  gaue  with  might, 

that  sprakeles  ^  sprang  out  ffuU  bright 
2028         flfrom  helme  and  hamesse  cleere. 

as  either  fiast  on  other  bett,^ 

both  their  swords  mett^ 


'  Yrayn  Btiw  Mabonn.—  Cot.    Lam. 
'  TIhto  is  the  long  part  of  auother  h 
in  the  MS.— F. 

*  ?  skimo  in  the  MS.— F. 

*  ho  hiilp  hym  nojt  hys  armys, 
Uyn  chauntomefit,  ne  hys  churmys. 

—Cot. 


Ne  halpe  hym  not  his  Amiotfr, 
His  diauntemefits,  ne  his  chambnr. 
— Lam. 

*  ?  MS.  spaakeles.— F. 

•  did  beat— P. 


LIBirS   DUCONHTS. 


469 


Ab  ycfe  may  now  heare.  Ip***  ***J 

sosi     Maham,  thai  was  the  more  shrew, 
the  sword  of  Sir  Lybins  he  did  hew 
in  2  qnite  and  cleare. 

then  Sir  Lybins  was  ashamed, 
S0S6     A  in  his  hart  eois  '  agramed  * 
flbr  he  had  Lost  his  sword, 
&  his  steed  was  lamed, 
A  he  shold  be  defamed 
2040         to  King  Arthur  his  lord, 
to  Iron  lithelye  '  he  ran, 
A  hent  vp  his  sword  then 

thai  sharpe  edge  ^  had  A  hard, 
1044     A  ran  to  Mabam  right 

A  flast  on  him  gan  ffight, 
A  like  a  ma<lman  ho  flared. 


LyUi 


r»tcbw«p 


niMto 


bat  euer  then  flbaght  Mabam, 
f04S    as  he  had  bcene  a  wyld  man, 
S«r  Lrbins  flbr  to  sloe, 
bat  StV  Lybias  earned  downo 
his  sheild  w/th  //i<it  flawchowiio 
sost         thai  he  tooke  Iron  flroe  : 
trae  tale  flbr  to  be  told,^ 
the  left  hand  with  the  sheild 
away  ho  smote  thoe. 
K»56     then  sayd  Mabam  him  till 

•*  Sir!  thy  Ktnmkett  bi<i*no  ill ! 
gentle  Knight,  now  hot*,^ 


Aiyl  rata  off 
hUthlckl 


U»kmm 


"41  will  yeeld  me  to  thee 
jtHO     in  Iniio  and  in  lioyaltTf* 


oAptvIo 


»   f*  rtiir,  or  rril.— F.     •opp.     I^m. 
f    <paiit*  It.      K. 

«   Ajrmm^,    <ltspUttM^.    in^rTr^l.      Ol. 
0.110^.    mlhrr    (itgram^ti)    ftxig«rn!. 
■^.  ^#rtf«.  Fttior.  Ij*.— I*. 

TOL.  11.  K    K 


•  lith«»lT.  f^ntW.  (nimMv).-  P. 

•  'l^lr  ii  h.i»  ttn»  IxKtimi*  in  thf  MS., 
or  ill**  wr»nl  i<i  euig*.     F. 

'  Crii!,  rlijrthmi  ifmtii.     1*. 

•  i.r.  otiw  ftop.— I*. 


490 


UBIUd   DISCONIUS. 


an«l  to  (rivr 
np  thf¥  Lady 
uf  Siiia- 


for  Imn'* 
BVPi-ri  -wan 
p<.>ij«on«l. 
and  will  kill 
him. 


att  thine  owno  will, 
&  alsoe  that  Lady  firee 
//*rtt  is  in  my  posstee,^ 
2064         take  her  I  will  thee  till ; 

firor  through  thai  8h[r]ueed  dint 
my  hand  I  hauo  tint ' ; 

the  veinim  will  me  spill ; 
2068     fforsooth  without  othe 
I  venomed  them  both, 

our  encmyes  ffor  to  kill." 


LjhiiiA 


cklU  on  hini 
to  tipht 


anil  then 


pplitf  hi** 
head  in  two. 


S/r  Lybius  sayd,  "by  my  thrifft 
2072     I  will  not  haue  of  thy  gift 

ffor  all  this  world  to  w[i]nn  ! 
therfore  lay  on  stroakes  swythe  ! 
the  one  shall  cut  the  other  blythe 
2076         the  head  of  by  the  Chin  »  !  *' 
then  Str  Lybius  and  Mabam 
ffought  together  ffast  then, 
&  lett  fibr  nothing  againe ; 
2080     tJini  S/r  Lybius  that  good  'Knight 
earned  his  helme  downe  right, 
&  his  head  in  twayne/ 


'  postt',  apud  Chauc.  est  Power.  Vid. 
Crl.— P. 

*  l.*t.— P. 

*  One  btroke  too  many  in  tho  MS. — F. 


*  The  French  adds  (p.  108): 
Del  cors  li  saut  i  fumiere. 
Qui  molt  cstoit  hideuse  et  fiere. 
Qui  li  issoit  parmi  la  boce,  &c.— 1 


UU08  DUOOHirti. 


491 


[The  Xinth  Part.] 


[How  Ljbtiw  dUcocliftiits  and  mb  the  Ladj  o^  SiaftdovBt.] 


2U64 


rPtrte 

tO$8 


lOM 


Now  is  Mahin  alaine  ; 
A  to  Irom  he  went  againe, 

with  sword  drmwne  to  ifight ; 
ffbr  to  haue  Clonen  his  brmine, 
I  tell  yon  (For  oertaine 

he  went  to  him  fToll  right ; 
bat  when  he  came  there,' 
awaj  he  was  bore, 

into  what  place  he  nisi.' 
he  sought  him  (Tor  the  nones  ' 
wjde  in  man j  woones  ^  ; 
to  ffight  more  him  list. 


listkt 


t\U 


as  he  stood,  A  him  bethought  * 
to9€    that  itt  wold  be  deere  bought 
thai  he  was  flrom  him  Ikre, 

ffor  he  wold  with  sorcery e 

doe  much  tormenrtye, 
:iUto        &  ikni  was  much  care. 

he  t«M»ko  his  swonl  hiuittlvc*. 

«fc  rode  rpon  a  hill  hye. 


LftiM 


him  mmUf. 


LjUi 


thorr.—  P. 

Ui^     h«t.      f  Dtflit,   korw    biA.  —  V. 
>      4*f4.     niuitr.     l^Ain. 

th*'  •.■ii'«.  iir  •minr.  on  ptirpncr  ;  di» 
t0ln%.     Jnn.  psqwf^lr. —  I*. 

V'  1*   ft  Ivm*^.  h«liitAtioti.--  P. 

>»ith'r  the  Frvnrh,   nor  Tot.,  D«»r 
n     Ka*  *hf  •'-•'tiur  and  •U>iii|cof  \h^ 
tht  wKiih  UAUtw  h»rr.     Tot.  rf«<lt 
,o<)  whano'-  hf  o«-  fuoil  hjm  DOjt, 

Atyi  ir»o  to  vjkr  «irr, 
£.1  •rv>|«  th  vovvl  ftwl  Mift, 
H«  wyll  br  ftorr  S-l4»|t 


M  h«  r*  thi(#  fmm  m^  j-fmrt.*' 
*  ( >B  ktnf  hjm  MCtr  ^rt  ir^otjrlk  kojrjt. 
And  proTfif-  t'>  marir  l^rjit, 
Kroerr  hyin  «*f  hy  cmrr. 
Fur  th«-  U»t  thrt-«*  lia^.  Lain,   ftobati- 
tutra 

••  Hf  will  with  wjfTrrye 
lK>  nif*  Xttrmrutrjt 

Thai  it  BIT  m<Mt«  carr." 
Surr  hp  Ml  and  ti|cht«> ; 
Ilr  mu«tr  whatr  di»  h^r  nyRht ; 
Hr  wax  fif  Mriae  all 
(I.  2U2-7heiy).-F 


BBS 


^yi 


mm  •   — ^ 


i-wl 


iui:'r=<e. 


£  ji-.tf-t  TTizii  ^z^nn. 


L«  &  K:cr!Le  J^i.-'.'  l«  ACtl  ssoct. 


i:  ?•     'i^K  -r^a  -rxr^  It  hin  T/i-jt  trde 

-  -        T        » 

Er  rTtic  ••:  ii=i  ?£I  fcotu  :;««ei*5] 

^  iri^n  he  YaA  him  s!ame. 
f  i^t  h-c*  tooke  the  'wr  agmine 
f:r  to  fcazie  */''Jt  ladjr  gent. 
t\\*,     &s  ?«:-~:ie  as  be  did  thither  come, 
of  Lis  horsae  he  light  downe, 
\.-j!_j-«i  '^  j^.i  icto  the  hall  hee  went 


k  aoaght  thix  ladje  fiaire  and  hend, 
2l2i.t     but  he  cold  her  not  find  ; 

therfor  he  sighed  finll  sore.^ 
6till  he  sate  moami[n]g 
^r.':  ti^\  ffor  that  Ladje  fTaire  A  jonng; 

2 1 24         for  her  was  all  his  care  ; 

lie  nc  wist  what  he  doe  might ; 
bnt  still  he  sate,  &  sore  he  eighty 
of  loj  hee  was  flFdll  bare. 

A  window  2128     but  as  he  sate  in /7<at  hall, 

ho  heard  a  window  in  the  wall, 

fiaire  itt  gan  ynheld ; — 
great  [wonder  *  ]  there  with-all 
2132     in  his  hart  gan  ffall ; — 
as  he  sate  &  beheld, 

'  sair.  Scoticc. — P.        »  fear  op  dread. — ^P.    wonder. — CoL    wondjr.— Lu 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


493 


a  worme  ^  out  gan  pace 
with  a  womans  fface 
2136         that  was  younge  <&  nothing  old. 
the  wormes  tayle  ^  &  her  winges 
shone  ffayre  in  all  thinges, 
&  gay  flfor  to  beholde. 


and  oat 
creeps  a 
worm  (or 
serpent) 
with  a 
young 
woman's 
face, 

shining 
wings, 


2140     grisly e  great  was  her  taile, 

the  clawes  large  without  ffayle  ; 

Lothelye  '  was  her  bodye. ' 
Sir  Lybius  swett  for  heate, 
2144     there  sate  in  his  seate 

as  all  had  beene  a  ffire  him  by.^ 
then  was  Sir  Lybius  euill  agast, 
&  thought  his  body  wold  brast. 
2148         then  shee  neighed  him  nere ; 
&  or  Sir  Lybius  itt  wist, 
the  worme  with  mouth  him  Kist, 
&  colled  about  his  lyre.* 

2152     &  after  that  kissing, 

the  wormes  tayle  &  her  wing 


big  claws 
and  tail, 


and  a  loathly 
body. 


It  comes  to 
Lybius, 

kisses  him 
on  the 
mouth, 


its  tail  and 
wings  fall 
off, 


*  Fr.  wivre.  Phillips  gives  "  Wyver, 
the  Name  of  a  Creature  little  known 
otherwise  than  as  it  is  painted  in  Coats 
of  Arms  and  described  bj  Heralds :  'Tis 
represented  by  Gwillim  as  a  kind  of 
flying  Serpent,  and  so  may  be  deriVd 
from  Vipera^  as  it  were  a  winged  Viper 
or  Serpent ;  but  others  will  have  it  to  be 
a  sort  of  Ferret  call'd  Viverra  in  Latin." 
De  Biaoiu's  description  of  it  may  be 
compared  with  the  English  : 

A  tant  vit  i  aumaire  ouvrir 
£t  une  WiTRE  fors  issir. 
Qui  jetoit  one  tel  clart^ 
Com  i  cierge  bien  enbras^. 
Tot  le  palais  enluminoit, 
Une  si  grant  dart^  jetoit. 
Horn  ne  vit  onques  sa  parelle. 
Que  la  bouce  ot  tot  Vermel  le ; 
Parmi  jetoit  le  feu  ardent ; 
Moult  par  estoit  hideus  et  grant ; 


Parmi  lo  pis  plus  grosse  estoit 
Que  i  vaissaus  d'un  mui  ne  soit ; 
T.«e8  iols  aroit  gros  et  luisans, 
Comme  ii  escarbocles  grans ; 
Contreval  I'aumaire  descent, 
£t  Tint  parmi  le  pavement. 
Quatre  toises  de  lone  duroit, 
£n  la  queue  iii  neus  avoit. 
C'onques  nus  hom  ne  vit  greignor, 
A  ins  Dius  ne  fist  cele  color, 
QuVn  li  ne  soit  entremell^e, 
Dessous  sambloit  estre  dor^e. 
(pp.  110-11).— F. 

*  Hyre  body. — Cot.    Lam. 
■  i.e.  loathsome. — P. 

*  Maad  as  he  were. — C. 

As  alle  had  ben  in  fyre. — Lam. 
'  apud  Scot,  flesh.  Apud  Chauc.  lere  is 
the  Complexion  or  Air  of  the  face. —  P. 
Swyre. — Cot.  Lam.  Coll  is  to  embrace ; 
Fr.  collie^  an  imbracing  about  the  necke. 
Cotgrave. 


41^4 


LIBirS   DI5C05irS, 


f-^*.  >:•- 


Sr'.I  a  war  Ler  fioe ; 
she  was  ffalrv  in  all  thing'. 
2 IS*;     a  w...Tr.;tr.  w.-ihout  Leasing  ; 

fiiirtr  he  saw  nener  or  ihoeJ 
sLt-e  s::-:-i  vpp  &1  soe  *  naked 
a=  cLrlst  had  her  shaped. 
2lti.»         xl.iz.  was  Si"r  Lvbius  woe. 

shee  savd,  "  cod  /A 'it  on  the  rood 
S.V  K..  y/it,  quitt  thee  thr  meede, 

ff.-r  thou  mv  ffone  wold  sloe.' 


bleed. 


2\f'4 


216^ 


i  ..  .    ".  .■* 


2172 


••  iriou  hast  slaine  now  ffull  right 
'2  clarkfs  wicked  of  misrht 

tf'-it  niToncrht  bv  the  ffeende. 
East,  west,  north  and  soath, 
they  were  ni'?*7'  i-s  of  their  mouth  ;  ' 

maiiv  a  man  thev  haue  shend. 
throuirh  their  inchantment, 
to  a  wormc  the  had  me  meant,* 

lie  vroc  to  wrapp  me  in 
till  I  liad  k'i'ssed  Sir  Gawaine 
fLo.i  is  a  noble  K.ni*jht  certaine, 

ur  some  man  of  his  kinn. 


'  D-  riiauju  Hrril-i  her  Uii.^k  into  hf-r 
ci"  '  ■.■•ir'l;t!l«T  \\w  ki>s,  sTur;»ti'S  LvMus, 
an  i  r'Vi-.iU  his  l.ilmv  and  f«;irt:ntact-"  to 
hirii. — G'O^'d't'.  "'in  >>{  (rtinvni/is  (^Ga- 
waim- 1,  a:.'!  ^'i  /'  'f>  Lhti-^iJ?  Mains^  then 
srii.K  hiiij  to  >h  <\>.  an<l  un  hi»  waking 
hli.iws  him  tht;  la'Iyal  ln.r  toil.-t  (p.  llo), 
fair-r  than  any  oin.'  fl-c  in  thi?  world, 
eiec{»t  shf  f»f  tlio  lihuof.-^  Min'/iS  (who 
<-x«'fl.s  Pari-'s  Elaine.  I««<'i  la  Mondi% 
15iil;li!«.  L:ivino  d«'  I»inlur.Jie.  and  Mui^e 
la  tV-f,  (i».  l.rl).  Thi<  all  takr.s  |tljice  in 
L'JiU  c/*'  la  MontU;>fh  <p.  116»:  and 
th**  Ia«!y  duclart-s  h«Tself  as  the  daii*ihter 
of   If   hon   roi   GriiuHirs.     She  narrates 

• 

h<»w  MuUniS  and  Euro  ins  enchanted  the 
i)i)iH)  inhabitants  and  made  them  de&troy 
the  eitv.  and  thf-n  turned  her  into  a 
worm.     Of  th».'  tnwn  she  8ays : 

,  .  ceste  ville  par  droit  non 

Est  appflec  Senaudon : 


Fur  ce  que  Mabons  Fa  gafltee, 
Est  GArnxciTEs  apelee.    ((>.  120.) 
But  as  the  stoiy  has  be«-n  sketched  in 
the  IntrvKluction,  I  onlj  note  here  that 
the   la4ly*s  name,  Bloxuk  l?Mmtn  is 
not  given  till  p.  130,  when  she  is  starting 
for  .Arthur's  court. — F. 
»  MS.  alsoe.— F. 
■  God  yelde  >h»  dy  whyle, 
l><7t  my  fon  |>oa  woldnBt  slo. — Cot. 
God  yelde  the  thi  wille. 
My  foon  thou  woldest  sloo. — ^Lam. 
^  Be  wordes  of  hare  monthe. — Cot 
AVith  maystres  of  her  monthe. — hoL 
this  word  signi6ee  mingled,  mixfld, 
G.  Doug.  Cluiuc.  &C. — ^P. 
To  wanne  me  hadde  )>ey  y-went 
In  wo  to  welde  and  wend. — Cot 
To  a  worme  they  had  me  went, 
In  wo  to  leren  and  leode. — ^Lam. 


ap^ 


LIBIUS  DISCONIUS. 


495 


2176     fibr  '  thou  hast  saaed  my  liffe, 
Castles  50  and  '  ffine 
take  to  thee  I  will, 
&  my  selfe  to  be  thy  wiffe 
2180     right  Without  striffe, 
if  itt  be  your  wilL"  ' 

then  was  he  glad  &  blythe, 
&  thanked  god  often  sythe  ^ 
2184         That  him  that  grace  had  sent,     p»ge  346] 
&  sayd,  "  my  Lord  *  faire  &  ffree, 
all  my  lone  I  leaae  with  thee, 
by  god  omnipotent ! 
2188     I  will  goe,  my  ladye  bright, 
to  the  castle  gate  fiPnll  right, 

thither  flPor  to  wend 
ffor  to  feitch  your  geere 
2192     that  yee  were  wont  to  weare, 
&  them  I  will  you  send. 


Shepromiaet 
LybioB 
fifty-five 
castles 


and  herself 
as  his  wife. 


LytdoB  is 
bUthe, 


and  proposes 
to  fetch  the 
lady's 

clothes  from 
the  castle. 


"  alsoe,  if  itt  be  yowr  will, 
I  pray  you  to  abyde  still 
2196         till  I  come  ^  againe/' 

"  Sir,**  shee  said,  "  I  you  pray 
wend  fforth  on  your  way,^ 
therof  I  am  fiPaine.** 


If  she  will 

stay  till  he 
oomee  back. 


2200     Sir  Lybius  to  the  castle  rode, 
there  the  people  him  abode ; 


Lybias  rides 
to  the  castle 


•  because.— P.        «  Ma  amd.— F. 

•  5yf  hyt  ys  artours  wylle, — Cot. 
And  hit  be  Arthures  vUl. — Lam. 

•  Time — also,  since,  afterwards.  GL 
[^auc — ^P.  Cot.  has  for  this  and  the 
next  sixteen  lines: 

And  lepte  to  horse  8wy)>e, 

And  lefte  >at  lady  stylle. 
Bat  en^  he  dradde  yrayn, 
For  he  was  nojt  y-slayn, 

With  speche  he  wolde  hym  spylle. 


Lam.  has  nearly  the  same  words,  but 
omits  the  last  line  but  one. — ^F. 

»  Ladye.— P. 

•  cone  in  MS. — ^F. 

'  "  I  you  pray  "  the  writer  of  the  MS, 
was  going  to  repeat,  and  got  as  far  as 
p:  tnon  he  stopt,  put  in  on  after  /, 
added  r  to  t/o',  and  way  to  the  />,  so 
that  the  words  are  "  I  on  your  pway." 
— F. 


496 


LIBIU8  DISCONIUS. 


axxl  tells  the 
iwople  that 
Mabara  and 
Inm  are 
slain. 


to  lesu  clir[i]8t  gan  they  cryo 
ffor  to  send  tbem  tjdings  glad 
2204     of  tliem  that  Long  had 

done  them  tormentrye. 
Sir  Lybius  is  to  the  Castle  come, 
&  to  Sir  Lamberd  he  told  anon, 
2208         and  alsoe  the  Barronye,' 
how  S/r  Mabam  was  slaine 
&  S/r  Iron,  both  twayine, 

by  the  helpe  of  mild  Maryc. 


He  Hen<l8  a 
rich  robe 


2212     when  that  "Knight  soe  keene 
had  told  how  itt  had  beene 

to  them  all  by-deene, 
a  rich  robe  good  &  ffine, 
2216     well  flurred  with  good  Ermine, 
he  sent  that  Ladye  shecne ; 


and  garlandii 
tu  the  laiJy, 


and  all  the 

IK'Oplo  of 

Siniulounc 
go  and 
ff tch  her 
home. 


They  crown 
her, 


Kcrchers  and  garlands  rich 
he  sent  to  her  priuiliche,* 
2220         that  mayd  ho  wold  home  bring.' 
&  when  shee  was  ready e  dight, 
thither  they  went  anon-right, 
both  old  and  young, 

2224     &  all  the  flblke  of  Sinadowne 
With  a  ffairo  procession 

the  Ladye  home  they  fifett. 
&  when  they  were  come  to  towne, 
2228     of  p/vcyous  gold  a  rich  crowne 
there  on  her  head  the  sett. 


and  thtenk 
God. 


they  were  glad  and  blythe, 
&  tlianked  god  often  sithe 


'  i.  e.  The  Barrons  collectively.— P. 
*  i.e.  privily.— P. 


'  A-non  with-ont  dwdlynge. — Cot 
A  byrd  hit  ganne  hir  bnnge.—Liii 


UBIC8  BI8COHIU8. 


497 


thai  ffrom  woe  them  had  Inought. 
all  the  Lorcb  of  dignitye 
did  him  homage  and  ffealtje, 

aa  of  right  they  ought. 


SIM     thej  dwelled  7  dajea  in  the  tower 
there  Sir  Lamberd  waa  gooemor, 

with  mirth.  Icy,  and  game ; 
A  then  thej  rode  with  honor 
1240     mto  Eling  Arthur, 

the  Knighta  all  in-aame. 

ffins.* 


aod  Uwn 
rid*  off  1(0 
▲rthnr. 


*  It  if  to  T«rj  wrong  of  the  copier  or  tnuisUtor  to  luiTe  broken  olT  tho  itory 
vhKovt  fpviBg  ™  veddiDg  between  Ljl)iiii  and  his  lort,  tbmt  I  ndd  it  here  ftftim  the 
thrtm  onprinted  MiSH.  as  well  as  the  Cotton  one.  The  Lincoln*!  Inn  and  AahmoU 
Mi9k  hnr«  more  ■fntii  than  the  Cotton  and  Lambeth  onva. 


i'«  /ra  M8,  aUg,  Ao.  160,  mi.  r., 

Ny  M^jd  gnd  alm^ 
BuJK  Ajthuor  and  his  knj)t, 

Ht  heo  [nr]  hadde*  tchaflie. 
Afthfoor  laf  aa  M  jve 
ljbt«a  K^  majr  to  wjne 

^t  waa  to  gmt  a  dame. 

Ho  ■vfthe  of  K>o  brydale, 
SCooKm  eon  wi^  tAl«> 
T«1U  hit  in  no  grate. 

In  M  •^nly  m1« 

W«ocv  lofde*  monje  and  iaie, 

Amd  Udjea  wel  honeatc. 
^r  «a*  ryrhe  M»rujrMi 
Br^  to  fool  and  wjBe, 

To  itMm  and  to  maata. 
Hr  w»a  Hj  yche  {ifthra,       pack  of  leaf] 
vrie  mviMUml  a  ry^htia. 

And  MtBe  Ht  wrure  mpreftt. 


Sir  Ofttrara.  kovjt  of  reooon, 
ia«iir  to  Ho  ladj  of  synaydoun, 

"  MxUwr.  trro«rljr, 
hr  K<  ««^Sid  H  vi^  pmjde, 
J  $r%i  him  tv  a  fur»-at  •}(!« 

Uo  a  grntil  ladj.** 


AskmoU  M8,  61,  Ut{f5Sh, 

Thej  thankjrd  god  of  hit  nijr)ht#«, 
Kjrogr  Arthoar  And  hyt  knj)hte«, 

That  ache  had  no  achame. 
Arthovr  |ane  lir-lvue  [Vmi  69] 

Hyrr  Ijbeus  Ht  niej  to  wrna, 

That  waa  ao  jeot;  11  A  dame. 

The  nij[r]the  of  M  brytUll 
Ma?  no  man  tell  witA  tala 

Ne  iM*j  in  no  grate : 
Yn  Ktft  iM*mbljr  aale 
Wherr  brY«ir«  grrte  amd  amale, 

And  Uiur«  full  honeetr ; 
Thtir  waj*  manj  A  man/, 
And  arm  J  a  fcode  wone 

Both  to  moat  amJ  leate. 
Forr  luich  H  mjOAtrmllrii  All/ 
That  twvrrt  viti-in  M  hallo 

Ana  t  whes  of  H  brate. 

Hyrt  iTbeua  modrr  ao  fre 
Comt-  tu  Ht  niaogifTe ; 

lirrr  rudd  vm  rede  aa  rjae ; 
Si'hr  knew  lyl*eua  wrle  be  •v|ht, 
An«!  wy*t  adr  A-noiK  nrihl 

Tliat  ht»  waa  of  mjch  prj  •<. 

Scht*  wtni  Ui  wr  gnaen/. 
Aid  ar^d.  "WftA-uUUO  lrjru# 


•  Aai. 


la  iiM  iia.-r. 


t  kad.-r. 


498 


LIBIUS   DISCONIUS. 


(Lincoln  8  Inn  MS.  ctmtinued.) 

^nnc  ^At  lady  bly)>o  was, 
And  ful  olio  kyssed  his  fais, 

And  haylsel  [sic]  hj-m  sykyrly. 
Sir  Labous  )>an  wold  ky)>e : 
he  wente  to  his  fader  swy)7e, 

And  kyssed  him  tymes  monye. 

he  knrK>led  in  \f&t  stonnde, 

And  saide,  kneoland  on  grounde, 

*'  for  godis  loue  al  weldand, 
)>at  made  ]>eo  world  so  round, 
fayre  fadir,  or  y  fonde, 

blesse  me  wij»  ^yn  hond." 
J»at  hynde  kny^t  Qawayn 
blessyd  J>eo  child  wi)>  mayn, 

And  made  him  soofT^e  vp  stande. 
he  comaundyd  kny^t  and  sweyn 
To  clepe  Libeus  "  Gengelayne," 

)7at  was  lord  of  lond. 

fourty  diiyes  hay  dwellyd, 
And  lieore  feste  faire  heold 

wi)>  Arthoure  )>eo  kynge. 
As  ^o  gost  vs  tolde, 
Arthour  wi)>  kny^tis  bolde 

horn  gonno  )>ay  bryngf. 
twenty  yere  hay  lyued  in-samo 
wih  muohe  gleo  and  game, 

hi*  and  hat  swete  hynge. 
Ihesu  Cr}-8t  oure  saueour, 
And  his  modir  hat  sw('te  flour, 

Kpt-do  vs  at  our  nede ! 

Explicit  LcbiuJ^«  do-sconius  [?MS.] 


(Askmole  MS.  continued.) 

Thys  is  owre  chyld  so  fre." 
Than  was  he  glad  and  biyth. 
And  kyssed  hym  many  A  sythe. 

And  seyd,  **  ^hzI  lykes  me." 

Syr^  gawen,  kny^ht  of  renowns, 
Seyd  to  he  lady  of  synadooii, 

"  Madame,  trenly 
He  hat  hath  he  wedyd  with  pride, 
Y  gate  hy»i  Tnd[er]  A  forest  syde 

Off  a  gentyll  lady." 
Than  hat  lady  was  bljth. 
And  thankyd  hym  many  A  syth. 

And  kyssed  hym  sykerlj. 
Than  lybeus  to  hym  wan, 
And  \»er  he  kyssed  hot  man ; 

Forf  soth  treuly 

Ho  fell  on  kneys  ifi  hat  stouiid, 
lybeus  knelyd  on  he  ground. 

And  seyd,  "forf  g«i  All  weldinge 
That  made  he  werld  rownd, 
Feyw  fadtr,  wele  be  je  fownd  I 

Blysse  me  witA  jour  blyssynge !  *' 

That  hcnd  kny3ht  gawentf 
Blyssod  hys  sonf  witk  ma,jne. 

And  made  hym  yp  to  stond, 
And  comandyd  kny^bt  and  sweyn^ 
To  calle  hym  gyngelyanf. 

That  was  lorde  of  lond. 

Forty  deys  )>cr  they  duellyd,       [leaf  *».] 
And  gret«  fest  h«  held 

Viith  ArthoMr  he  kynge. 
As  he  gest  hath  told, 
Arthotir  witA  kny3hte5  bold 

Home  gan«  hym  brynge. 
X  ^ere  \>ei  lyuea  in-same 
W/tA  mckyll  gle  and  game. 

Ho  and  that  suete  thynge. 
Ihcsu  cryst  owre  sauyovr. 
And  his  mod^  hot  suete  floure, 

To  heuone  blys  vs  brynge ! 

Here  endes  he  lyfe — 

Y  telle  30W  witA-outon  stryfe — 

Off  gentyll  libeus  disconeu^. 
Fore  his  saule  now  byd  30 
A  pat^  nost^  And  An  Aue, 

Fop?  he  loue  offHiesu^, 
That  he  of  hys  sawlo  haue  pyte, 
And  off  owi^'S,  iff  hys  wyll  be, 

When  wo  schall  wend  h«'-to. 
And  30  hat  haue  herd  hat  talkyng«, 
30  schall  }iaue  he  blyssinge 

Of  Jhesu  cryst  All-so. 

[Finis.] 


LIBIUS  DISOONIUS. 


499 


Cotton^  Calig,  A.  ii.foL  67 1  col.  2. 

And  >oiikede  godes  mj^tes, 
Artomv  and  hys  kny^tes, 

pot  he  ne  hadde  no  schame. 
Aitoure  yaf  hew  al  so  *  blyue, 
Lybeanus  to  be  hys  wyfe, 

pot  was  80  gentylltf  a  dame. 

pe  loye  of  ^t  bredale 
Nys  not  told  yn  tale, 

Ne  rekened  yn  no  gest. 
Barons  and  lordynges  fale 
Come  to  )>at  semyly  sale, 

And  ladyes  well^  honeste. 

per  was  pyche  seroyse 

Of  all«  JHtt  men  kou)>  deuyse, 

To  lest  &  ek  to  meat. 
pe  menstrales  yn  bonre  &  halle 
Hadde  ryche  yftes  witA-alle, 

And  jiy  )>at  weryn  vnwrest. 

Fonrty  dayes  |>ey  dwellede 
And  har«  feste  helde 

With  artoui«  pe  kyng. 
As  >e  frens8ch«  tale  teld, 
ArtouK  with  kny^tes  held 

At  horn  gan  hem  brynge. 

Fele  jew  )>ey  lenede  yn-same 
Viith  moche  gle  &  game, 

Lybeauns  &  jnit  swete  [>yng. 
Ihesn  ciyst  onre  sauyoure, 
And  hys  moderf  )>at  swete  flours, 

Graunte  yb  alle  good  endynge. 

Amen. 

Explicit  libeauus  desconus. 


Lambeth  MS,  306,  leaf  106. 

They  thanked  god  with  al  his  myghti«, 
Arthur  and  all^  his  knyghtw. 

That  he  hade  no  shame. 
Arthur  gave  als  blyye 
Lybeons  that  lady  to  wyfe, 

That  was  so  gentill^  a  dame. 

The  myrrotcr  of  that  brydale 
No  man  myght  telle  with  tale 

In  Eyme  nor  in  geste. 
In  that  semely  Saale 
Were  lordys  many  and  fale. 

And  ladies  fuUe  honeste. 

There  was  Riche  Service 
Bothe  to  lorde  and  ladyes, 

To  leste  and  eke  to  moste. 
Thare  were  gevyn  riche  giftt«, 
Euche  mynstrale  her  thrifts. 

And  some  that  were  ynbrest. 

ffburty  dayes  thei  dwelden. 
And  Uier  here  feste  heldefi 

"With  Arthur  the  kynge. 
As  the  ffrensshe  tale  ts  tolde. 
Arthur  kyng,  with  his  knyghtM  bolde, 

Home  he  gonne  hem  brynge. 

Sevyn  yere  they  levid  same 
With  mekyllf  loye  and  game, 

He  and  that  swete  thynge. 
Nowe  IhesvL  Criste  oure  Savioure, 
And  his  moder,  that  swete  floure, 

Grawnte  vs  gode  Endynge  I    Amen. 

Explicit  libious  Disconyus. 


•  MS.  also. 


500 


This  piece  has  been  already  printed  from  the  Folio,  just  as  it  is 
by  Jamieson  in  his  Popular  Ballads  and  Soiiga  (1806). 

The  other  versions  of  the  old  ballad  are,  Oil  Morice  given  by 
Percy  in  the  Reliquea  from  a  printed  edition  current  in  Scot- 
land, Child  Noi^jce  and  Chield  Morice  given  by  Motherwell 
from  recitations,  3  stanzas  of  a  traditional  version  given  by 
Jamieson.  The  number  of  these  versions  shows  how  popular  the 
ballad  was.  Another  proof  is  its  use  by  Langhorne,  by  Home,  and 
others,  as  the  basis  of  longer,  more  pretentious  works.  Of  the 
said  versions  Gil  MoHce  and  Chield  Morice  closely  resemble  each 
other,  and  are  infinitely  less  forcible  than  the  other  two.  They 
are  intolerably  prolix.  The  fire  is  quenched  with  much  water. 
They  are  the  offspring  of  men  who  possessed  the  faculty  of  Midas 
with  a  difference — they  turned  everything  they  touched  into 
dross.  The  other  two  versions  are  admirably  terse  and  vigorous, 
and  have  a  right  to  places  in  the  first  ranks  of  our  ballad-poetry. 
Undoubtedly  the  less  corrupted  is  the  Folio  version ;  but,  un- 
happily, it  is  somewhat  imperfect. 

This  is  indeed  a  noble  specimen  of  our  ballad-poetry  in  all  its 
strength.  For  the  overpowering  vigour  of  its  objective  style  it 
may  be  compared  with  Little  Musgrave  and  Lady  Bemai\l^ 
How  vivid  every  picture  it  paints  is!  how  effective  every  stroke  I 
Not  a  word  is  wasted.  The  writer  is  too  absorbed  in  the  action 
of  his  piece  to  indulge  in  any  comments,  or  moralisings,  or 
superfluities  of  any  sort. 

Semper  ad  eventum  festinat,  et  in  medias  res, 
Noil  secus  ac  notas,  auditorem  rapit 


vid.  Scottish  Edition  which  is  evidently  a  modern  Improvement. — P. 


CHILDE   MAURICE,  501 

This  abstinence  from  all  reflections  and  sentimentalities  is  in- 
describably impressive.  The  ballad-writer  of  later  times  is  too 
often  like  the  guide  who  introduces  the  traveller  to  a  fine 
cathedral,  and  disturbs  the  glorious  efiect  of  the  sight  with  his 
intrusive  conceited  garrulity.  This  old  writer  presents  ug  with 
a  wonderful  spectacle  without  putting  in  ever  a  word  of  his  own. 
You  forget  the  guide,  and  are  given  up  wholly  to  the  effect  of 
the  spectacle.  If  we  could  never  consider  the  heavens  without 
having  suggested  to  us  the  names  of  the  stars  and  their  sizes  and 
distances  from  the  earth  !  This  old  writer  is  content  to  let  his 
tale  produce  its  own  effect.  He  conceives  it  in  all  its  tremendous 
force,  too  really  to  permit  him  to  criticise  or  dally  with  it  in 
any  way.  Feeling  much^  he  says  little.  Hence  the  intensity  of 
his  narration. 

What  strange  wild  pictures  he  paints !   The  Child  in  the  silver 
wood, 

sitting  on  a  block 
With  a  Bilver  comb  in  his  hand, 
Kembing  his  yellow  lock. 

— the  foot-page  hasting  on  his  errand  with  the  presents  of  the 
grass-green  mantle  and  of  the  gold  and  precious  stone  rings — 
the  husband  and  his  wife's  son  drying  on  the  grass  or  a  sleeve 
their  bright  brown  swords — the  victor,  his  supposed  rival's  head 
cut  off,  how  he 

piicked  it  on  bis  sword's  point, 

Went  singing  there  beside, 
And  he  rode  till  he  came  to  the  lady  fair 

Whereas  this  lady  lied, 
&  says  "  Dost  thou  know  Child  Maurice  head 

If  that  thou  dost  it  see  ? 
And  lap  it  soft  and  kiss  it  oft. 

For  thou  lovedst  him  better  than  me. 

— the  mother  recognising  in  her  slain  lover  her  one  only  son. 
That  terrible  passage  in  the  Bacchce  of  Euripides,  where  the 
scales  fall  from  Agave's  eyes,  naturally  suggests  itself  as  one 
looks  at  that  last  picture;  though  there,  indeed,  the  horror  of 


502 


CHILDE  MAURICE. 


the  situation  is  deepened  by  the  fact  that  her  own  hands  have 
done  the  deed : 

Then  answers  Cadmus : 

AF.     6p£  fiiyurrov  ikyos  ^  rdKcut^  iyA, 
KA.     fxciy  aoi  Kiorti  ^oii^Tai  wp<Hr€Uc4rai ; 
AF.     o6k  •  Aaa&  n€vB4^s  71  rd\at¥*  lx«  icdpti. 


Child 
Maurioo, 
while 
hnnting, 


tollR  hlfl 
footpago 


to  RO  to  John 
BLeward'a 


f^reot  hor  as 
many  times 
II H  there  are 
knotd  un  a 
net, 


and  a»k  her 


LHILDE  Maurice  hunted  ithe  silnen '  wood, 

he  hunted  itt  round  about, 
&  nocbodye  that  he  fibund  therin, 
4         nor  none  there  was  with-out. 

^  <S^  he  tooko  his  siluer  combe  in  his  hand, 

to  kembe  his  yellow  lockes ; 
he  sayes,  "  come  hither,  thou  litle  ffoot  page, 
8         that  runneth  '  lowlye  by  my  knee  ; 
fibr  thou  shalt  goe  to  lohn  stewards  wiffe 
&  pray  her  speake  with  mee. 

*'  &  as  itt  ffalls  out  many  times, 
12         as  knotts  bcene  knitt  on  a  kell,^ 

or  Marchant  men  gone  to  Leeue  London 
either  to  buy  ware  or  sell, 

"  I,  and  greete  thou  doe  that  Ladye  well, 
16         euer  soe  well  ffroe  mee, — 

And  as  itt  ffalles  out  many  times  [i»g«347] 

as  any  hart  can  thinke. 


'  The  downstroko  of  the  r  of  sUtten  is 
mado  twice  over. — F. 

^  Prof.  Child  dots  two  lines  as  miss- 
ing, before  lines  5,  15,  &  21,  and  after 
lino  G4.     Ballads  ii.  313-16.— F. 

«  MS.  nimeth.— F. 

*  Kelle,  retkidtim^  rctiaculum  (Catho- 
licon).  Hetictda  a  lytell  nette  or  kalle. 
Riticijiellum^  a  kalio  (Ortus)  ,  .  .  The 
fasliion  of  confining  the  hair  in  an  orna- 


mental network,  which  ooeasionallj  ms 
jewelled,  seems  to  hare  obtained  io 
England  from  the  time  of  Heniy  UI. 
until  that  of  Elizabeth,  and  an  aidless 
variety  of  examples  are  afK>rded  hy 
illuminated  MSS.  and  monumental  effi- 
gies. It  was  termed  cnlU  or  kdU,  t 
term  directly  taken,  periiaps,  from  the 
French  ra/€.  Latin  wlantiea  or  cotfatt. 
Way  in  Promptfmum,  p.  270,  note  '.— F. 


CHILDE   MAUBICE. 


503 


"  as  schoole  masters  are  in  any  scHoole  House 
20         writting  with  pen  and  linke, — 
ffor  if  I  might,  as  well  as  shee  may, 
this  night  I  wold  with  her  speake. 

"  &  heere  I  send  her  a  mantle  of  greene, 
24         as  greene  as  any  grasse, 

&  hidd  her  come  to  the  silner  wood 
to  hunt  wtth  Child  Manrice ; 

"  &  there  I  send  her  a  ring  of  gold, 
28         a  ring  of  precyous  stone, 

&  bidd  her  come  to  the  silner  wood  ; 
let  ffor  no  kind  of  man." 

one  while  this  litle  boy  he  yode, 
32         another  while  he  ran  ; 

vntill  he  came  to  lohn  Stewards  hall, 
I- wis  he  nener  blan. 

&  of  nurture  the  Qhild  had  good ; 
36        hee  ran  yp  hall  &  bower  firee, 
&  when  he  came  to  this  Lady  ffaire, 
sayes,  "  god  you  saue  and  see ! 

"  I  am  come  flfrom  Ch[i]ld  Maurice, 
40        a  message  ynto  thee ; 

&  Child  Maurice,  he  greetcs  you  well, 
&  euer  soe  well  ffroia  mee. 

"  &  as  itt  fiiyis  out  oftentimes, 
44         as  knotts  beene  knitt  on  a  kell, 

or  Marchant  men  gone  to  leeue  London, 
either  ffor  to  buy  ware  or  sell, 

"  <!b  as  oftentimes  he  greetes  you  well 
48         as  any  hart  can  thinke, 

or  schoolenuM^^rs  in  any  schoole 
wryting  wtth  pen  and  inke  ; 


to  come  and 
hunt  with 
him. 


He  sends  her 
a  ring. 


The  f ootpage 
goes  to  John 
Steward's 
hall, 


and  gives 
ttie  lady 


Child 

Maurice'^ 

mc«eage: 


hff  gn*!tM 

tlmtm  a« 
than:  are 
ktnAM  tm 
hfrr  omit, 


504 


CHILDE   MAURICE. 


52 


''  &  hcerc  be  sends  a  Mantle  of  greenc, 

as  greene  as  any  grasse, 
&  lie  bidds  jou  come  to  tbe  siluer  wood, 

to  bunt  w<'tb  Cbild  Maurice. 


aii'1  )k'^«  her 
to  c«»mo  to 
II le  wcmd  to 
him. 


John 
Su;w  nnl 
ovrrlicarB 
thL(, 

ordtTs  hU 
btetxl 


nnd  armour, 


ri'lp<  to  the 
wood, 


fin<lH  Child 
Mtturico, 


and  asks 
what  he 
ni(*aii-«. 


'*  &  bcere  be  sends  jou  a  ring  of  gold, 
66         a  ring  of  tbe  precyous  stone, 

be  prajes  you  to  come  to  tbe  siluer  wood, 
let  ffor  no  kind  of  man." 

"  now  peace,  now  peace,  tbou  litle  fibotpage, 
GO         ffor  Cbristes  sake,  I  pray  thee  ! 

ffor  if  my  lorcZ  beare  one  of  tbese  words, 
tbou  must  be  banged  bye  !  " 

lolin  steward  stood  vnder  tbe  Castle  wall, 
64         &  be  wrote  tbe  words  euerye  one, 

&  be  called  vnto  bis  borskeeper, 
"  make  readye  you  my  steede !  " 

I,  and  soe  bee  did  to  bis  Gbamberlaine, 
68         "  make  readye  then  my  weede !  " 

&  be  cast  a  lease  *  vpon  bis  backe, 

&  be  rode  to  tbe  siluer  wood ; 
&  tbere  be  sougbt  all  about, 
72         about  tbe  siluer  wood, 

&  tbcro  be  ffound  bim  Cbild  Maurice 

sitting  vpon  a  blocke, 
w/tb  a  siluer  combe  in  bis  band 
76         kembing  bis  yellow  locke. 

be  saycs,  "  bow  now,  bow  now,  Cbild  Maurice  ? 

alacke !  bow  may  tbis  bee  ?  ** 
but  tlien  stood  vp  bim  Cbild  Maurice, 
80         &  sayd  tbese  words  trulye  : 


?  leash,  thong,  cord.     Sec  lees,  lese  in  Halliwell. — F. 


CHILDI  MAURICE. 


505 


*'  I  doe  not  know  jow  Lsd  je,*'  he  nid, 

''  if  that  I  doe  her  lee.'* 
**  ffor  thon  hast  sent  her  lone  tokens, 
•4         more  now  then  2  or  8 ; 

**  ffor  thon  hast  sent  her  a  Mantle  of  greene, 

as  greene  as  an  j  grasse, 
it  bade  her  oome  to  the  silner  woode 
Si         to  hunt  with  Child  Manrice ; 


TteChOd 


JohB'twlte. 
"AmAjwt 

Wrkn 


'*  it  thon  [hast]  sent  her  a  ring  of  gold, 

a  ring  of  prccjoos  stone, 
it  bade  her  come  to  the  silner  wood, 

let  ffor  noe  kind  of  man. 


'*  and  Ijj  mj  fiaith,  now,  Child  Manrice, 

the  tone  of  ts  shall  dje !  " 
**  Now  be  mj  troth,"  sajd  Child 
M         ''it  thai  shaU  not  be  I." 


riaff. 


to 
Uw  woodio 


One  of  w 

•bftUdie. 


[|»C«S48J 


loo 


Imt  hee  pnlled  forth  a  bright  browne '  sword 

it  dnred  itt  on  the  grasse, 
it  soo  ffast  he  smote  att  lohn  Steward, 

I-wisMO  ho  nener  rest. 


lo« 


then  hce  pnlled  fforth  his  bright  browne  sword, 

it  drjvd  itt  on  his  sleene  ; 
it  the  fBrvt  good  stroke  lohn  Stewart  stroke. 

Child  Maurice  head  he  did  cleeoe ; 


Johailrswt 
ChikS't  hfd. 


UA 


it  he  pricked  itt  on  his  swords  pojnt, 

wmt  singing  there  beside, 
A  he  rode  till  he  came  to  thai  Ladyc  flaire 

wheras  this  ladyc  Lyed ; 


Itaa 
hi*  ■vunl- 


t*»l     II. 


•  Ottly  bslf  tb«  •  in  tht  MS  -  F. 
L  L 


506  CHILDE  MAUUCE. 

and  fares.  ''  dost  t]ion  know  Child  Maurice  beid 

m 

if  f A'lt  thon  dost  itt  see  f 

lis         ffor  thou  louedst  liini  better  then  mee/* 

fy.  «T«  bat  when  shee  looked  on  Child  Maurice  head, 

L.  ^i  h*r  shee  nener  spake  words  bat  3, 

*"  I  neaer  beare  no  Child  bat  one, 
116         d  Toa  haae  slaine  him  tralTe/* 

Jo*:s  sajes,  ''  wicked  be  my  merrymen  all, 

rr;<-*:^»  I  caue  Mcate,  drinke,  A  Clothe  I 

T.  <  <u:  -r^  bat  cold  ther  not  haae  holden  me 


1-=. -A 


120        when  I  was  in  all  that  wrath  ? 


bf  \M9  fl^Ais  **  fibr  I  haae  slaine  one  of  the  carteoase[s}t  Kni^A 

i.:^  tt.is.  //lilt  eaer  bestrode  a  steed! 

soe  haae  I  done  one  [of]  the  fairest  Ladves 
124         //idt  eaer  ware  womans  weede !  " 

ffins. 


507 


Here  apparently  one  endeavours  to  reconcile  an  offended  swain 
to  his  offending  mistress.  He  had  begged  a  kiss,  it  would  seem, 
and  been  denied  it ;  had  concluded  that  his  Phillis  cared  nothing 
for  him.  Deaf  to  all  the  pleas  urged  in  her  behalf,  he  rejoices 
that  he  has  escaped  from  her.  We  do  not  know  any  other  copy 
of  the  song. 

ShEPARDES  hoe  !  Shepards  hoe  ! 
harkes  how  Phillis  ^  calles  thee !  La :  La  :  La  : 
Philis  hoe :  Phillis  hoe ! 
4     "  shall  I  lose  my  Phillis  ?  noe,  noe,  noe !  " 

"  what  ailes  thee  Shepard  [that  then]  looke  soe  sadd  ?  why  are  yon 

where  is  thy  lonely  lasse  shold  make  thee  gladd  r  " 

"  ay  me  !  my  mistress  proaes  vntrue,  "My  loveu 

false." 

8     &  my  louely  lasse  bidds  me  adew !  " 

"  Shepards,  ffye  !  Sheperds,  ffye  ! 

doe  not  wrong  thy  lasse,  &  noe  canse  whye."  No,  she  Ib 

"  Phillis  noe,  Phillis  noe  ! 
12     bnt  if  shee  prone  light  in  loue,  lie  let  her  goe." 

thns  wee  poore  mayds  mnst  beare  the  blame, 

w^ich  *  inconstant  men  deseme  the  same. 

if  onght  be  ill,  tis  our  amisse, 
1 6     bnt  a  womans  word  is  noe  indge  in  this. 

"  Come  away  !  Come  away !  Come  and 

look  at  her. 

see !  the  lonely e  lasse  tnpps  ore  the  lay." 
"  lett  her  goe !  lett  her  goe  !  ..  Not  i,  let 

20     neuer  more  shall  my  lone  say  mee  noe.'*  ^^^^' 

*  The  first  /  is  much  like  an  « in  the      those  of  the  MS.    Before  the  first  La 
MS.     The  colons  in  lines  2  and  3  are      Percy  inserts  A<7tf. — F.        '  while.-  P. 

L  L  2 


,008 


PlIILLIS   HOE. 


wouldn't 
kira  mc  1" 


24 


"  ffye  shcpard  !  thou  thy  loue  dost  wrong ! 
ffor  maides,  ih6  dare  not  doe  amidst  a  throng. 
"  O,  beg  I  did  but  one  pore  kisse ; 
but  shce  with  coy  disdaine  said  noe  by  lys.^** 


Dim't  be 
jcalaus, 


"  lelous  loue,  lelous  loue, 

heraftcr  doth  vnconstant  proue." 

"  many  ffind,*  many  fBnd 
28     women  &  their  words  are  like  the  winde. 

men  sweare  the  loue,  &  do  protest ; 

but  when  a  woman  sweares,  shee  doth  but  lest 

who  Icfltes  with  loue,  playes  with  a  bayte 
32     ihtit  doth  wound  the  hart  with  slye  deceipte." 


love  yonr 
love  again ; 


womim  muit 
have  thuir 
way. 


"  Shepards  swaine,  Shepanls  swaine, 

let  thy  lasse  inioy  thy  loue  againe  ! 

Iff  maids  pray,  if  maids  pray, 
36     women  in  their  wants  will  haue  noe  nay ; 

thus  women  they  must  leame  to  wooe, 

when  men  fforgctts  what  nature  bidds  them  do." 

**  if  women  wooe,  tis  much  abuse, 
40     tho  cuningly  they  coyne  •  a  coy  excoae.** 


«•  No.  I'm  not 
iuch  A  f«x>l. 


Wo  sliop- 
b«T.l8  arc  as 
coy  as 
kiiit'^." 


"  Ha  pics  shce,  hapless  shee 
ihai  doth  loue  ^  soc  base  a  swaine  as  thee  !  *' 
'*happyc  I,  happy  el : 
44     that  Ifortuue  haue  such  ffolly  for  to  fflye ! 
base  minds  to  bascncs  still  will  fflee, 
but  honor  in  an  honored  hart  doth  lye. 
tho  base,  my  mind  true  honor  brings ; 


ffins. 


48     [w^oc  shepai'ds  in  our  loues  are  as  coy  as  Kings.** 


'  noe  I  wis.  —P. 

'  Thon-  is  a  t-ig  to  tlic  ff. — F. 


■  MS.  coymo. — "F. 

*  Three  strokes  for  the  m. — F. 


509 


(guj)  ^  Colefjranlic :  ^ 

[In  3  Parts.— P.] 

**  Guy  &  Phillis  "  is  simply  a  resumS,  with  some  slight  additions 
from  other  sources,  of  the  old  romance  of  Ouy  of  Warwick ;  "  Guy 
&  Amaranth  "  and  "  Guy  &  Colbrand  "  are  versions,  one  modern, 
by  Samuel  Rowlands,  the  other  much  older,  of  scenes  in  that 
romance. 

The  presence  in  the  MS.  Folio  of  three  pieces  dealing  with 
Sir  Guy  is  a  sign  of  the  immense  popularity  he  enjoyed,  if  any 
sign  were  needed.  But  indeed  there  is  no  lack  of  evidence  of 
his  warm  acceptance  with  the  Middle  Ages  as  well  in  foreign 
countries  as  in  England.  Certainly  among  the  heroes  of  romance 
he  was  one  of  the  most  popular.  At  home,  Arthur,  and  Sir 
Bevis,  and  he,  surpassed  all  others  in  the  extent  and  endurance 
of  the  admiration  they  attracted.  There  is  nothing  more  touching 
anywhere  than  the  story  of  the  last  moments  of  Guy.  Such  was 
its  intrinsic  interest,  that  it  won  the  ear  of  the  world  solely  on 
the  strength  of  it ;  for  the  story  seems  never  to  have  been  worthily 
told.  Not  one  of  the  three  poems  treasured  up  in  the  Folio 
is  of  any  considerable  literary  value.  Nor  can  higher  praise  be 
bestowed  on  the  old  romance.  "  Guy  of  Warwick,"  says  Ellis, 
^'  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  popular,  and  no  less 
certainly  one  of  the  dullest  and  most  tedious  of  our  early 
romances."  Dull  and  tedious  it  emphatically  is.  This  jewel 
then  has  never  yet  been  skilfully  set.  But  its  preciousness  was 
appreciated  in  spite  of  the  rude  craftsmen  into  whose  hands  it 

'  A  curious  old  Song,  but  very  incorrect.— P. 


510  GUY    AND   COLEBRANDE. 

liad  fjillcn.     Its  lustro  p^lorified  its  clumsy  encasements  as  the 
ln'aiity  of  the  beggar-maid  her  unworthy  dress. 

Ah  shin  OS  the  moon  in  cloudy  nkics 
She  in  her  poor  attire  was  soon. 

The  oldest  form  in  which  we  have  the  story  Ls  that  of  an  Anglo- 
Norman  romance,  R<^manz  de  Gui  de  Warwyk,  extant,  as  Ritson 
informs  us,  in  the  lihrar}'^  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge 
(1.  G),  and  in  tlie  University  Library  (More  690),  Harl.  MSS. 
No.  377.),  King  s  MSS.  8  F.  ix.     There  are  two  fragments  of  it 
in  the  Bodleian  (printed  in  tlie  BritUh  BlhHographa\  iii.  268; 
see  Introduction  to  the  Abbotsford  Club  edition  of  the  copy  of 
the  P^nglisli  romance  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.).     Other  fragments 
were  found  in  the  cover  of  an  old  book  by  Sir  Thomas  Phillips. 
There  is  also  a  copy  in  the  Bibl.  Imperiale  (MSS.  de  Colbert, 
42S9),  Paris.     There  was  a  copy  at  Bruges  in  1467,  at  Bnissels 
in  14H7,  as  we  learn  from  Barrois' account  of  the  Librairies  du 
Fils   du    Koi  Jean    Charles   V.,  &c.      (See  Guy  de   Warwick, 
Abbotsford   Club,  Introduction.)     This  French  work  was  com- 
posed probably  in  the  thirteenth  centur}%     Its  composer  may 
possibly  have  been  Walter  of  Exeter,  as  is  stat^ni  by  Carew  in  his 
Survi'ii  of  Oi)rnvj(UL      Whoever  composed  it,  and  wherever,  it 
was  done  into  EngliKli  early  in  the  fourteenth  century,  which 
Kii<^dish  version    is  mentioned   in  the    Prologue   to    Hampole's 
^^pfciilunL  Vi(tr,or  Mirrour  of  Life,  written  about  1350,  amongst 
the  popularities  of  the  day  : 

I  wanio  you  firsto  at  the  bog^'nnynjifo 

Tliat  I  will  mako  no  vayno  ciiqn*nj;*' 

Of  (h'(Us  of  armi'S,  no  of  amours, 

Ah  (Iocs  niynytollis  &  gestours, 

Tliat  niak«*lh  carpynp*'  in  many  a  pinco 

Of  Ootavitmo  &  Isciil)raco, 

Ami  of  many  other  prstrs 

And  namolv  when  thov  come  to  festfs, 

N'*  of  tlio  lyf  of  Hi'vis  of  iramptiiuiic 

That  was  a  knyj^ht  of  givtc  n^nounr, 

Ne  of  Syr  Gyo  of  Warwyke.     (ajntd  Warton,  II.  Eng.  P.) 


GUT  AND   COLEBBANDE.  511 

and  by  Chancer  in  the  Rime  of  Sir  Topas  (about  1380)  as  one  of 
the  romances  of  price  of  his  day.  Of  it  the  oldest  copy  extant  is 
preserved  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.  There  are  others  in  Caius 
College  and  the  Public  Libraries,  Cambridge.  It  was  still  in 
demand  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  was  then  printed  by 
Copland,  and  by  Cawood.  The  romance  was  then  condensed,  as 
was  the  custom,  into  a  ballad.  In  159^  Richard  Jones  has 
entered  on  the  fiegister  of  the  Stationers'  Company  '*  A  pleasante 
songe  of  the  valiant  actes  of  Guy  of  Warwicke  to  the  tune  of  Was 
ever  man  so  tost  in  loveJ*^  This  is  the  "  Guy  &  Phillis  "  of  the 
present  volume.  The  common  title,  says  Percy,  is  *'  A  pleasant 
song  of  the  valiant  deeds  of  chivalry  atchieved  by  that  noble 
knight  Sir  Guy  of  Warwick,  who  for  the  love  of  fair  Phelis  became 
a  hermit  &  dyed  in  a  cave  of  craggy  rocke,  a  mile  distant  from 
Warwick."  Of  this  ballad  there  are  copies  in  the  Bagford,  the 
Pepys,  and  the  Roxburghe  Collections.  The  legend  was  after- 
wards rendered  into  prose,  and  in  that  shape  printed  again  and 
again  down  to  very  recent  times.  In  the  British  Museum  Library 
there  is  a  copy  of  the  7th  edition  of  a  cheap  printed  prose  version, 
1733.  Ellis  speaks  of  this  popular  form  as  "to  be  found  at 
almost  every  stall  in  the  metropolis."  The  Anglo-Norman  ro- 
mance was  converted  into  prose  in  1525. 

But  the  story  was  not  given  up  wholly  to  the  romance-writers 
and  their  followers.  The  oldest  other  recital  of  it  now  extant 
may  possibly  be  that  ascribed  to  Gerard  of  Cornwall,  printed  by 
Hearne  in  the  Appendix  to  his  edition  of  the  Annates  de  Dun- 
siahle,  Tliis  Historia  Ouidonis  fie  Werwyke  is  preserved  in 
MS.  147,  Magd.  Coll.  Oxford.  "  There  is  not  however  anything 
else  of  Gerard's  in  the  Magd.  MS.  (which  the  compiler  has  seen), 
and  the  short  piece  which  has  been  printed  is  written  at  the  end 
of  Higden's  Polychronicon,  on  the  same  page  with  it,  and 
preceding  its  copious  index."  (See  Macray^s  Manual  of  British 
Historians.)     Of  Gerard's   date   and   life   nothing   whatever  is 


512  GUir   AKD   COLEBBANDE. 

known.  "  He  is  said  to  have  written  a  book  De  Geaiis  Britonum^ 
anilanotlier  De  Gejitis  Rerjinn  West'Saxonum^vfhich  are  referred 
to  t  lift' e  times  by  Th.  Rudburn  in  his  History  of  Winchester.  Thin 
also  mentions  him  in  his  catalogue  of  historians  in  Holinshed, 
p.  1;VJ()."  This  piece,  whenever  written  and  by  whomsoever, 
(iescribt^s  the  famous  fight  with  Colbrand  much  as  the  Folio  Mk>. 
version  narrates  it.  An  entry  in  the  Registry  of  the  priory  at 
Winchester,  quoted  by  Wart  on  in  his  History  of  English  Poetiy, 
tells  us  that  when  Adam  de  Orleten,  bishop  of  Winchester,  visited 
his  cathedral  priory  of  St.  Swithin  in  that  city,  "  Cantabat  jocu- 
lator  (juidam,  nomine  Herebertus,  CanticuTti  Colbrondiy  necnon 
gestum  Em  me  regine,  a  judicio  ignis  liberate  in  aida  prioris." 
The  first  certain  historical  mention  of  the  great  Saxon  champion 
is  to  be  found,  as  Rit^on  points  out,  in  the  Robert  de  Brunne's 
translation  with  additions,  made  circ.  1338,  of  Peter  Langtoft's 
Chronicle,  written  circ.  1308. 

That  was  Guy  of  Warwik,  as  the  boke  sais, 
Th(>ro  he  slouh  Colbrant  with  hachc  Daneis. 

The  story  of  Guy*s  abnegation  of  his  wife,  and  his  lonely  uncom- 
forted  end  in  the  cell  he  had  hewn  for  himself,  is  told  in  chapter 
clxxii.  of  the  Gesta  liomanoimniy  compiled  in  all  probabiUty 
about  the  same  time  with  Langtoft's  Chronicle.  This  compilation, 
made  to  serve  mediajval  preachers  for  purposes  of  illustration, 
naturally  took  that  part  of  the  story  that  exemplified  their 
favourite  teachings.  Towards  tlie  end  of  the  same,  the  fourteenth 
century,  Henry  Knighton,  Canon  of  I^icester,  in  his  Chronicon 
(Ut  E  cent  thus  Aiif/llce  ab  anno  950  ad  1395,  recounted  the  old 
tale  at  full  length.  He  introduces  it  with  a  sort  of  apology. 
'*  Set  quia  historia  dicti  Guidonis,"  he  writes,  "  cunctis  seculis 
laudahili  memoria  commendanda  est,  in  presenti  historia  immiscere 
curavi.''  Then  he  relates,  with  circumstances,  how  "  Olavus  rex 
Dacia*,"  "  Gulanus  rex  Norwegia?,"  and  *'  dux  Neustriae,**- invaded 
England  and  besieged  King  Athelstan  for  a  space  of  two  years 


GUT   AMD   COLEBBANDE.  513 

in  Winchester.     They  had  enlisted  in  the  service  of  their  expe- 
dition a  vast  Saracen,  "  de  Africa  quendam  gigantem,  Colebrandum 
nomine,  qui  eo  tempore  fortissimus  et  elegantissimus  reputabatur 
in  orbe,"  described  subsequently  as  **  diabolicae  staturae,"  and  by 
Guy  when  he  stands  face  to  face  with  him  as  "  non  homo,  immo 
potius  spiritus  diaboli  in  effigie  hominis  latens."     Eventually  a 
truce,  "  treuga,"  was  agreed  to,  and  the  determining  of  the  war 
by  a  single  combat.     But  there  seemed  scant  hope  of  finding  a 
match  for  Colebrand,  who  was  of  course  put  forward  to  maintain 
the  Scandinavian  cause.     Then  follows,  as  in  "  Guy  &  Colbrand," 
an  account  of  the  vision  that  appeared  to  the  perplexed  King 
Athelstan,  and  how,  obeying  it,  and  posting  himself  ''  ad  altam 
primam  "  at  one  of  the  city's  gates,  he  saw  amongst  the  entering 
crowd  "  virum  elegantem  cursantem,  de  una  sclauma  alba  vestitum, 
et  imum  sertum  de  albis  rosis  in  capite  tectum,  fustemque  grandem 
in  manu  ferentem ;  set  multum  erat  debilitatus  et  discoloratus 
anxietateque  minoratus,  eo  quod  nudipes  laboravit,  barbamque 
prolixam  habuit."     This  wild  woe-begone  figure  was  Guy — Guy 
in  deep  distress  for  his  sins,  and  caring  only  to  escape  from  hos- 
pitalities to  pray  for  indulgence  and  pardon.     But  he  is  moved 
at  last  to  undertake  the  combat  with  the  giant.     "  Fecit  se  armari 
de  melioribus  armaturis  regis,  et  cinxit  se  gladio  Constantini  [the 
sword  of  Constantine  the  Great  and  the  spear  of  Charlemagne 
were  among  the  presents  given  to  Athelstan  by  Hugh,  Duke  of 
the  Franks]  lanceamque  sancti  Mauricii  in  manu  tulit."     Tlien 
the  fight  is  described  with  extreme  minuteness.     Colbrand  seems 
overpowering  till    Guy  cuts  off  his  sword-arm;   **Quod  Dani 
videntes,  multum  ex  hoc  contabuerunt,  et  Deos  suos  in  Colu- 
brandi  adjutorum  cum  ejulatu  magno  invocare  coeperunt."     And 
then  comes  the  final  scene  in  the  hero's  life. 

In  1410,  as  Dugdale  (Baron,  i.  243)  relates  on  the  authority 
of  Rous,  to  whom  we  shall  come  presently,  Guy's  fame  was  well 
spread  abroad  at  Jerusalem  ;  for  the  Soldan's  lieutenant  heariug 


.  .     :  .    .  :•  ■_  •:.  ■   :...    >  *}  .\     :  '^^'i^r'^r.^,  -^^'l  s-kt  storv  thev 

•  mm 

■.-.■■;.    .  :     --.-.J  '  ...  ::—■::*■:  L::.: -sr:!  :Lrrr  pr-::..u?  ^••■•nfT; 
:  j^     ■  ■  ..     .   --  -.  •  ■.. -rr-  -    -i*:.-    :  --i-i  Tii. :  z-.i  ir.Trn  U'L:? 

-  -- .  --.'  7..  .-■  :•  :  >.r«r  IV.  ii  Prr.T  I.  in:?  u:  /?r?''?>^s. 
T  ..  .  .  ■•  .-  /..  .  :-l  :  ■!,  -j.r  ". :  >:  ii:'.-*:  r  ■rr.-in?-.-.  •  Tiraate 
•.."".-  ■  -  '..  ."  *  ■  '.:-Tv  :.  '>.  .?  -.vrl::":!  :.  :  Iv-j  after  the 
■  •.:  '.  -:'   ."     A  •    .-  ■*.■  '.  ii  -    :::-.-  r.::e-n'h  o*a"urv  RiidhiiriL 

:   v.".:.       --.  -.  :  ..■..  \  J  ■  :      ::-t:i:r'.i*ri  Lizii  frvin  an'>tiicr 

.  -  ■  r  ■  ■  .--  ^.:..:  L\:.  •^':.  iiv.i  IJ>h  p  '.-f  St.  David's  in 
'.T^'...  •  -  ■.  .  r.:  :  •':■:-  rr-.*:  o  u/'-it.  LtlanJ  in  Lis 
<■  .•*.."•'.  .  :  -vf  --x  ."•.r  niv'.-  TL-rna-  RudlK'urne 

:.  :.  ..  ^V. :.-:..•.>>*"  t.  i*  -i:..  :.^--t  :::.vr  iM*.<ige<  :  "  Tcitio 
y.  '  -'  /.  :  -•.:..  ■  .-.'.  :::'-  ::."-r  *'  '.":  r  :.  ;•.::::  I>:*:iurii  A  GuidoncKi 
..  :  •-'.  :  '.V.-.viV.  - '.T-i  ':  r- k!r:.*  oiv'.-.vi*  Wiat.:.uien^is  pla- 
.-/   . : .  ■  .1  :  .    i    11:  :r:.»  :-.  ■■'-:::»  I»cT.::inrich  appt-Uatu?  est, 

■      :     ■..*•■:...    ':  ■  H  *:...     I:.-:,t.;m  vvr.«  vict.'.ria-  s-rvatur 

-  .  -  -     .    ':•"".::.":-  _;:j-.:.:'>.  c::..  i^ia  trunoafira  erat :  caput 
-    :■:,'/.         .   ■.'.'■'  :-.  V.".-r-,v:'rv  ::;  e^-x^l.  ei.thtr-lrali  Winton\v 

•.-    .     .:.  '..    ..::.:!;   ":.:...•     K';  i:    "in.e  «iv?c*ril«es  the  rig^ht  m«»re 

:  .       '.:.  *..'-  ::'  -"        '  .V       *  W- .  '     •  ■*'<    *ii.'i-t  Wl.iirtou^  An';H'i 

y        ■  .    T.    :■  :'..■    ••  !.'-x  \K.:  r*:::i  "  i:^  ••  AiV'laf:"  the  scene  of 

:..'  -r.  i-  Ily  ;•   ?»!    '>.• :  the  "  jijiis  "  is  '"  mine  longitiidinis, 

:..!-.-.  ": ':.'.;:  .  .:.>  .. ;  :.  :.  li.n!;*-  :.>.i:::ati':'nis  i^niarus/'     Lvdgate, 

: . •  :  •    : .. 7 vv. i : ': ,  K • ;  i ■ . .•  I fl r. v ^^■  rs: n t.t.l  t rie ab' •  ve-mentioned  H't^ 

■  •>  .-    '•   ir.  •     .*■.  jr.st  a^  Samuel  R"wland,  something 

r-    :'    ■-    i  ■  -:.":rv  af:.r  l.i:r..  rit"l«l  the  cor*ilict  of  Guv  with 

A:..:^:.:":.  ::.  ::.:•  f  r:.i  «'iv..n  in  this  VMhinie.     Lydgate"s  work, 

I  -     r  v- :  !.:!:.•'.. !.  i.-  pr-.-'.-rv^vl  am^nir  the  Budleian  MSS.  and 

7-    ■   -•  -v    r  '.  ■-.    ".    :'".    r:'-'       tri:s.-rt     <.f    ii./%   oaih-Jnil   till  wilhia 
:  .  :.:.:.;    «...:.-:  :!.    w.»'."-  .:  '.'l^  l  r:;;       n.v  mcmorv."     Warton.  H.  E.  P. 


!••     1..' 


V  ..- 


•  • 


—  •  •  * 

•  i«a  .  .•■••  ••  -  * 

•   «t:.*-  «'!::?  r.t-r.r   Wir.v  .'k 

.     ••   I::  :.::!  I;.t:.!..:n.'»  ill  1122  • 

i.  •:.- A.-!.T..  •'♦-;i:i  .MM.-«''i:n, 

•     -•  -     .'.  i."  .•r>-r«i  ^iailv  ur-L-y'i''.. 
.  •;"    •  ■.  ••     •'.••if  »•»•,"»••!    *  •    r 

•  ••  •■■  mm  '  ^  •«  1  •• 

•  J  !         '  " 


»•■ , 


» • «   • 


i  «  • 


^^  • 

-..     :     ;  •      ■ '       1  ■     --^  -—  ^-i  "^j"-  "^eiiei  m  ii::i.     TLis 

»-  ...         _a_«_j 

.   -.  ..       .■..---:-:_  ^.-  "-- ."  -^    TiIjrT^r'!«-r*-iv  &a  bir 

•     -  tr  -.  -  -    -  .r  . — -  i  tL  Ir.  ii_  ^  I:  i  nri^Ti ^rreftie 

"-._    1    ■".-    -i.-'    ~--    :."-•     -r.-'-TT  ::"  Cilro:-'!  at 

•  •  tt         -      • 

-  -  *m        »  «    >     «  «      «      a 

>  ■  « 

-    ■  _  -  «  ft  ^     * 

.  •     •  • 

-.     -  _       -    -   '-  ..-..--.»_■-    :"v  .:::.:? -sr-r.!.  a:.! <.:  hii 

-  .  .  -     -__i   :':     -_-.r.  r  :U:_  :'•:  :.::::  z.V.  Lis  sw.-im 

'.-..-     -:_.--.'.- r^r' r-r-v-.:-::.    A::d  in  reznen- 

«  «  M 

«  • 

r-  -7    :'  ^.:     -  - ;■  -..rL  '  li  rv:  ■--:.: !y  Imij  Wfore  Rous's 

_  .        .  ".       ■.*.:..*.   •!:-:  W.;rw:;k  aii.i  at  Winchester. 

...--'      •         .  <.  -     :'  <r. ':.:*.::>     r  GuvcliflFe:  '*  OulJ 

:•      .      -..       ••.   'L~    ?•.   :"v    tLvT'.-    :La:    riuido  Eirl  of 

-.  _L  K  .  ,'  .-.:  .-.  *'  L*-  I'.;-'.*  -  .  .  livr-i  :n:Li5  place  like  a 

•....•.         :.  *    ".  >  •."::•.  }'■.'.: : r.  1:1.::''.  at  the  Article  of  his 

-      •  ■  -   •    -■...•.  «  vi.  .  .  .  H-rre  :?  a  L«.»u>e  of  Pleasure,  a 

:  :  :  •  .-   M  :-r.     Tj  r:v  :?  -vlriic/.  a  praty  WciCKl,a«/rti 

-    •  .   :.      2...  ::  r    vlir.^  ovr-r  tl.e  stoiies  wiih  a  praty 

:     .    -.    "..-..  :":::!-     Tri?'.:r'ji.  f:.:*.?  ';i«]ix:di  t-t  genuneii 

..   :..  f.  fi-  rivi   I-vt-?  vi  per  sasa  di^cursiu, 

•    ■/:■.•>  ::".:*:>  .-»::.:c:5?::ii:i."     The  heart  of  the 

-  :      :-r  >  :':.v  !  ve'.y  sj-::. 

..•.::...:!::.-.  if  tL-  w.::i  n.av  he  used  in  this  case, 


,   •«     .« .. 


OUT   AND   COLEBRANDE.  517 

for  the  legend.  At  any  rate,  they  may  serve  to  show  how 
old  it  is,  and  how  widely  and  generally  popular  it  was. 
In  the  Elizabethan  literature  allusions  to  it  abound,  though, 
strangely  enough,  not  one  occurs  in  the  plays  of  Shakespeare, 
familiar  as  he  must  have  been  with  it  and  the  locality  to  which 
the  more  touching  part  is  attached.  Putt^nham,  in  his  Art  of 
Poetry  (1589),  speaks  of  "  places  of  assembly  where  the  company 
shall  be  desirous  to  hear  of  old  adventures  and  valiances  of  noble 
knights  in  times  past,  as  are  those  of  King  Arthur  and  the  Knights 
of  the  round  table — Sir  Bevis  of  Southampton,  Guy  of  Warwick, 
and  others  like.'*  In  Dr.  King's  Dialogues  of  the  Dead  (quoted 
by  Mr.  Chappell),  "  It  is  the  negligence  of  our  ballad  singers," 
a  Ghost  remarks,  ^Hhat  makes  us  to  be  talked  of  less  than 
others ;  for  who  almost  besides  St.  George,  King  Arthur,  Bevis, 
Guy  and  Hickathrift,  are  in  the  chronicles  ?  "  The  Little  French 
Lawyer  in  Fletcher's  play  of  the  name,  and  Old  Master  Merry- 
thought in  the  Knight  of  the  Burning  Pestle  sing  snatches  of 
the  Legend,    Corbet  in  his  Iter  BoreaXe  wishes, 

May  aU  the  ballads  be  call'd  in  &  dye, 
Which  sing  the  warn  of  Colebrand  &  Sir  Gay. 

Butler  tells  us  of  Talgol,  one  of  Hudibras'  supporters  (who, 
according  to  L'Estrange,  represented  a  certain  Newgate  Market 
butcher). 

He  many  a  boar  &  huge  dun-cow 
Did,  like  another  Guy,  overthrow ; 
But  Guy  with  him  in  fight  compar'd 
Had  like  the  boar  or  dun-cow  far'd. 

Such  has  been  the  popularity  of  this  story.  The  oldest  literary 
form  of  it  preserved  to  us  is,  as  we  have  seen,  an  Anglo-Norman 
romance,  composed  probably  in  the  thirteenth  century.  This, 
no  doubt,  was  founded  on  songs  and  traditions  that  were  then 
commonly  in  vogue  in  the  country,  that  had  then  already  been 
so  for  many  a  generation.  These  were  dressed  and  decorated 
by  the   romance- writer   according   to   the   fashion  of  his  age ; 


',l^  GUT    AXD  C0LEB11A5DE. 

t:,-  ••I'i   Sax^n   bvro  transf'TUicd   iuto  a  Xorman  knight,  dis- 
|..-*  .';-vd  t'j  tLv  cru.-<idc?,  conducted  from  toumameut  to  touma- 
x..'.iit  tLr«>!ig:Lout  Eur"pr^,  and  carried  through  all  the  adventures 
yir'i^_-r  f-r  a   ht-r.j  of  chivalry.      One  most  prominent   feature 
•  •f  the   romance  ii^   its   monastic  feeling,  which,  indeed,  is  so 
stP.'Lir  tliat  •  Lv  may  wtrll  believe  it  to  be  the  work  of  a  monL 
A  terrible  rcni<  rr-u  ?eizes  Guv  at  last  fur  all  the  blood  he  Las 
sLi.-<i,  and  hi.-^  I<jvtf  fur  the  wuman  who  has  incited  him  to  his 
bl«.H>d-sheiMinij:  caret-r  passes  away.     Is  this  penitential  element 
part  of  the  original  tale  ?     Was  thL«  sung  of  by  old  pre-Xorman 
gleemen  ?     Or  is  it  rather  to  l>e  ascribed  to  the  translator  and 
e«lit«.»r  of  tht-  thirteenth  centur\'  ?  Probablv  so.  In  the  old  Saxon 
p««t'try.  so  far  as  is  known,  women  occupy  but  an  unimportant 
]}\iiCK\     Neither  there,  nor  indeed  in  the  life  which  that  poetry 
r  uictr.  d'l  tht-y  '^rain  influence  and  adjudge  the  prize."    More- 
over. I  lit-  can  Wfll  conceive  such  an  additiou  being  made  to  the 
stfry  in  the  thirteenth  centiirj-,  a  period  of  a  great  monastic 
revival — a  ]:>erit.d  of  much  doubt  as  to  matrimony,  an  uneasy 
sii-pieJMn  prevailin;^  tliat  it  was  an  indulgence  which  the  truly 
J.'.'. us  man  wmiM  scarcely  allow  himself.    Such  a  suspicion  enters 
the  >v'ul  of  (.iny,  when  at  last,  after  waiting  and  longing  and 
>«Tviiii:  s<.»  l'»ni:,  he  is  at  last  crowned  with  the  happiness  of  his 
heart;    he  resolves  to  abandon  the  treasure  gained.    How  noble 
anddevtiut  such  an  aliandonment  was  held  to  be  by  the  mediseval 
nn>nks  may  be  seen  from  endless  instances,  notably  from  the 
sImfv  of  Saint  Alexios,  of  whom  Alban  Butler  thus  writes  ' : 

HaviiiLT,  in  compliance  with  the  will  of  his  iwrents,  married  a  rich 
aiul  virtuuus  lady,  he  on  the  very  day  of  the  nuptials,  making  use  of 
the  liberty  whieh  tlie  laws  of  God  and  his  church  give  a  person  before 
tlu*  niarriaLTe  be  eonsunimated,  of  pifferring  a  more  perfect  state, 
sfoii'telv  withdiew,  in  order  to  break  all  the  ties  which  held  him  in 
I  his  world.     In  ilisguise  he  travelled  into  a  diffei-ent  country,  em- 

'  Set-  ApiKudix  at  the  end  of  this  Introduction. 


GUT   AND   COLEBRANDE.  519 

braced  extreme  poverty,  and  resided  in  a  hut  adjoining  to  a  chnrch 
dedicated  to  the  Mother  of  God.  Being  after  some  time  there  dis- 
covered to  be  a  stranger  of  distinction,  he  returned  home,  and  being 
relieved  as  a  poor  pilgrim,  lived  some  time  unknovm  in  his  father's 
house,  bearing  the  contumely  and  ill-treatment  of  the  servants  with 
invincible  patience  and  silence.  A  little  before  he  died  he  by  a  letter 
discovered  himself  to  his  parents. 

Guy's  wife-desertion  then,  and  his  severe  asceticism,  may  be 
later  additions  to  his  original  story.     There  can  be  little  doubt 
that  that  original  story  belongs  to  a  remote  age, — possibly,  as  has 
been  suggested,  to  an  age  anterior  even  to  that  assigned  to  it  in 
the  romance — the  age  of  Athelstan.     With  this  age  of  Athelstan 
it  would  seem  to  have  been  connected  from  a  very  early  time. 
There  is  no  kind  of  historical  basis  for  it  in  what  records  we  have 
of  that  age.     There  was  certainly  a  great  Northern  invasion  in 
the  reign  of  Athelstan.     Northumbria,  lately  annexed  by  him, 
allied  itself  with  Scots,  Danes,  Welsh,  and  essayed  to  recover  its 
independence.      "They  fought  with  Athelstan,"  writes  Milton, 
**  at  a  place   called  Wenduse  [which  might  easily  have  been 
confounded  with  Wynton]  ;  others  term  it  Brununbury,  others 
[as  William  of  Malmesbiury]   Bruneford;  which  Ingulgh  [who 
calls  it  Brunford]  places  beyond  Humber ;  Camden  in  Glendale 
of  Northumberland  on  the  Scottish  borders — the  bloodiest  fight, 
say  authors,  that  ever  this  island  saw."     Ellis  suggests  that  Guy 
— he  should  say  Egil — may  be  identical  with  one  Egils,  "  who  did 
in  fact  contribute  very  materially  "  to  the  victory.     If  this  be  so, 
then  the  legend  must  be  rather  Scandinavian  than  Saxon ;  for  this 
Egil  was  a  northern  viking  enlisted  on  the  side  of  Athelstan.   But, 
indeed,  if  the  legend  be  an  old  Saxon  one,  there  need  be  no  diffi- 
culty in  accounting  for  its  later  connection  with   the  reign  of 
Athelstan.     That  was  the  most  glorious  reign  in  the  history  of 
Saxon  England.   Athelstan  reaped  the  rich  fruits  of  his  illustrious 
grandfather's  wisdom  and  policy.    He  was  enabled  to  consolidate 
the  kingdom,  and  to  maintain  its  unity  unimpaired.     At  home 


520  GtT   ^5D  COIXBRAXDE. 

and  abrxid  his  name  i^as  known  and  feared.  His  crowning 
viot«>ry  at  Brunaubur^h  produced  a  profound  impression.  Even 
the'  Saxon  imagination  was  stirred  by  such  power  and  gloij. 
*'  To  df  scribe  his  famous  fight/'  says  Milton,  "  the  Saxon  annalist, 
wont  to  l>e  ?*A<'r  an*!  succinct,  whether  the  same  or  another  writer, 
now  lal»ouriiig  und^-r  the  wt-ight  of  his  argument  and  overcharged^ 
runs  on  a  suddt-n  into  such  extravagant  fancies  and  metaphors  as 
bear  him  quite  bevuud  the  scope  of  being  understood.''  Strangely 
enough,  the  great  poet  did  not  recognise  in  the  passage  he  thus 
characterises  the  work  of  an  older  bard  ;  for  it  is  in  fact  one  of 
the  ftrw  Saxon  poems  that  survive.  There  are  many  signs  of  a 
rich  ballad  literature,  besides  that  spirited  piece,  appertaining 
to  this  great  monarch's  reign.  There  is  the  story  of  Analaf 
l»elongiug  to  that  same  battle,  which  is  evidently  taken  by 
Malinesburv  from  some  old  ballad.  Then  there  are  the  stories  of 
the  King's  mother's  dream,  and  of  his  brother  Edwin's  punish- 
iiu  ut  for  taking  p:irt  in  a  conspiracy  against  him,  both  which 
that  chronicler  confessedly  found  in  old  ballads.  Naturally 
enough,  the  story  too  of  the  great  combat  with  the  giant  was 
attached  to  his  reign :  for  legends  attract  each  other,  so  to  speak. 
The  name  given  in  later  times  to  the  national  combatant  was 
Guy. 

Other  romances  in  course  of  time  grew  around  that  of  Guy, 
treating  of  his  son  Kuisburu,  of  his  tutor  Heraud  and  his  son. 


Harl.  MS.  7333./o/.  35  b, 

he  crmyto  'with  Innc  litil  spase  Bv  an  Aungcl  his  spirit  to  conreye 

IJy  til  the  is  past  Jh*  Kmle  of  his  lal>ouro  Atltir  his  bodyly  Resolycioiiiie 

Aft ir  whunif  Guy  was  ^or  nucctssouri'  Vor  his  mcritui  to [»•  hovenoly manBTonne 

S]  1.11^0   of  twoo   yoK  hy  grace  of  crist  ]>an  in  allf  haste  he  sent  his  weddyng 

Ihi'su  Rynp 

Pauntyni;  his   flesho  by  penaunoe  and  Vn  to  his  wyffof  trewe  Affecciomie 

liy^Mur  Prayd  her  tocomoj And  beo  at  his  eondiog 

Ay  nioro  ami  moro  onorossyiig  in  vertev  f  That  she   shokle  doone  ^re  hir  h»p 

^  God   made   him   kuowe   J»'  dayo  [»»   he  cure 

shold  dyi'O  As  by  A  manor  in*ffly  doligense 

)M.>rowG  his  graciou.4  resitaciouno  In  haste  to  ordeyno  for  his  Cepnltim 


GUT  AUD  COLEBRANDE. 


521 


•  'WftA  noo  ^ret  coste  ne  yrith  no  grete 

dispence 
Bh&o  hasted  hir  til  sheo  cam  in  presence 
"Wber  >at  Qxty  lay  dedly  pale  of  face 
Bespreyot  with    teeres    knelyng    with 

Bousrence 
^  dede  body  Felyce  did  ther  inbrace 
^[^Chis  notable  &  Famouse  worthi  knyght 
Sent  ber  to  sayne  bi  his  mesaagier 
Xn  ^ilke  phice  to  burye  hym  anoone 

Bight 
"Wher  that  he  lay  to  fore  in  A  smal 

Awter 
And  A£Etir  this  doe  trewly  hir  deveyre 
^er  for  her  selfe  dysposyft  and  provide 
IPwflteae  dayee  Folowyng  )»e  same  ^ere 
8ne  to  be  buried  )»ere  by  Guyes  syde 
^  His  holy  wyf  of  al  this  toke  good  hede 
like  aa  he  badde  and  liste  no  longer 

taiye 
Taoqnyte  hir  selfe  of  wyf9y  womanhede 
For  ■he  was  lo^  frome  his  desire  to 

▼arye 
Sent  in  Al  haste  for  )>e  ordenarye 
Wiche  ocupied  in  )»at  dyosyse 
She  was    not   foimde   in    oon«   poynt 

eontrarye 
£ehe   thyng   tacomplyshe  /  as  ye  have 

herde  devise 
^Aod  wUe  Ms  cronicle  /For  to  conclude 
At  hes  Ebcequyes  old  &  younge  of  age 
Of  diutfrse  folks  cam  grete  multitude 
With  grete  devocioune  vn  to  ^t  her- 
mitage 
Xjche  A  pry nse  wttA  al  l^e  surplusage 
^  tooke  hym  vppe/and  leyde  him  in  his 

mrave 
Ordeynid  of  god  be  marcyal  curage 
Ageinst  |»e  Danys  ]>is  Begioune  to  saue 
4|1¥dos  sowle  I  truste  restight  nowe  in 

glorie 


With  holy  Spiretiit  Above  >e  Firmament 
Felice  his  wyf  callyng  to  her  memurye 
l^e  daye  gane  neghe  of  her  enterrement 
To  fome  provided  in  her  testament 
Reynbome  >eire  heyre/ioustely  to  succede 
By  title  of  hir  and  lyueall^  discent 
)>eorldame  of  warwike  trewly  to  possede 
^)>e  stok  descendyng  doune  by  pe  pee 

dugree 
To  Guy  his  fadir  by  title  of  manage 
Afitir  whos  dethe/of  lawe  and  equyte 
Beynbome  to  entre  in  to  his  Eritage 
Cleimeyng  his  Byght/his  moder  of  good 

age 
Ha)>e  yolde   hir  dette  by  dethe  vnto 

nature 
By  side  her  lorde  in  Jnzt  Ermitage 
Wiche    eonded    feyre    was    made    hir 

Sepulture 
^For  to  auctorise  better  ^b  matere 
Whos  translacioufi  shewed  |»e  sentence 
Oote  of  latyne  made  by  >e  Cronniculier 
Callid  of  olde  Gyrard  Cronubyence 
Wiche  whilom«  wiot  witA  gret  deligence 
Dedis  of  hem  in  westesex  crowned  kynges 
Gretly  comendyng    for    kneygbtly  ex- 
cellence 
Guy  of   werrewike    in    heos    famouse 

wreytingis 
^Of  whos  nobelesse  ful  gret  hede  he  toke 
His  kneyghUy  fame  to  putten  in  Be- 

memberavnse 
)>e  elevent)»e  chapitre/of  his  historialboke 
>e  parfite  lyf  ^  vertuouse  gouemaunce 
His  wilfuUe  pouertee/harde  ligginge  and 

penaunce 
Al  sent  to  me  in  Englisho  to  translate 
If  owght  be  wrong  in  metre  or  substance 
Put  al  \>e  wyte/for  dulnesae  ofi  lydegate 


Harleian  MS, 

To  all  heroical  knightes,  and  illustrious 
Ladies,  both  in  Court,  and  Countrie 
for  virtewe,  love,  bewtie,  chivalrie, 
prowes,  bowntie :  &  of  other  com- 
pleate  departmentes  most  eminent 
and  honorabl,  John  Lane  in  all 
dutie  wisheth  gratious  perfection  to 
felicitie  eternal. 
After,  nay  before  all  your  secular  affiiires, 
vouchsafe  to  accepte,  to  your  recreations 


6243, /o/.  4. 

the  pleasant  historie  of  this  vertuous 
pairs  instanced  in  the  most  noble  pair  of 
frendes,  and  lovers,  the  Ladie  Felis,  and 
her  exemplarie  sparck  of  christian  honor, 
Sir  Gwy  Earle  of  Warwick,  sumamed 
the  heremite;  reckoned  for  more  then 
twoe  hundred  yeeres  togeather,  the  last  of 
the  Nine  worthies:  alb«it  in  that  heroical 
ranck,  hee  standeth  IndigniAed,  or  ne- 
glected, but  without  anie  known  cause, 


VOL.  11. 


M  M 


022 


(ilY    AND   COLEBRANDE. 


ly  -  '"■•  !  r;."  l.tT  i'll*' ■*.  !"r  tI'h  :r'" 
!'  ".  •'  •".:■■  ■^  --.:!;■•.  w  :•■.>' r  •  xj"«  ■♦•"ii- 
■  .•  :.-•.;;  ::••  r  .1  '  .  l-  -'  !.i--;.:  ri  in 
-.    -  i  11  -  .'  ■  I-  -   ■  .V.    :  .'•■'.}  '  in 

«  -  «  %     •  1        « 

ir  •.•■'.■  r"  -•  1- -:  r '.*•  v:.-- - -.k'-.  ;•.•»  it 
^.  • :  :■'..  ■■  ■:.•■••".:.';'.  't'  *:.■  ■  :•:_:: :..il 
1.  ••  v  .  ',  V  \  •.*  '.  -  "■  V  ..■.■  ::.■•  .r.-'.- m 
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tr. 


\»!'".  .:'.:•:■  v.-l  |.i'..m1  iu  ij:.P-:ir.  nf 
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»'•.:,*  .'•.•■.  ..".•:::j  ).•  r'- m.  Ai.l  Iiiiii  liaw 
:':.  ;.  -  :._•  ::  ■'•••■  i  ;:!•■»  t!.--  I'.i^-rii'k  i-f 
."  ■  ■• ..  i  ;  •  ':■.■  .  i'."::-  ._•!.  i:i  t'  :■!!.■••  ••l'>«j- 
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I:-..- '  !;j  ■:■■  :  ■".:•■•.  .i--«-i»ril':iji-  .i-  our  lan- 
j_  ; ._    ■*  ■  .  •■.':,.  •■.  f.i,,-  l.Mi'.l  iji'nv  i"rij-ii..i>. 

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\  .  _:  r:  ■«-  w:'!.  r-  :-■!..  an  I  l«.ir::i'l 
li- :  .  -•:■  i!-.-':s.>  w.*:?:-  --  -l  '■;•"  •■urii'Mi*. 
;»  ■  ':  -.j!.'.:.-  ii.j-::'"':-  k:ii_'!;'  Sir  riiiiip 
>  \'\.  ' 'I',  ••'■i  -\V ■'.'"..'■''.*  •■!  r.':ir»i|'{. 
1  i-.r.i  1 .»--  til. 1.1  i.'vr.  t'"."  tin*  ilii-y 
I  .I-  i!';.,'!  :ii 'Avii  !■•  :ii- "  ■«"  ] '"if "  lii't'>ri- 
i  li  ]...\'-  '  Vi-r  "'.:.'.  '•■;:'.'  ■■;!  rlii-  -anio 
i.i"!'  1.  K  .:!.'  :•  ■  xi  :■  --  ".v.  .rt-.i;!":  i.^i.lly. 
\\'  ■'.  ;il'  •  i>  ;  •■•.  ••■■.  .!y.  1:  !-  iiij--  l-y 
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l:i%\r:l  lli.i::;.'  ■.•  «  t"  y  ■•..m:  l',.!  ■■ll.  «I«h' 
bi.:V''  "-.It  »'i:::":i-.  \y-\v>  n  a!  lii>tnri«', 
v:i  1- •.•  :'.!■■  ^ij-i-irnr*  •■!'  Mi-iiri«-;  w/f/VIi 
hi!:.  !■»  -iriwr  w .'].  i*  Ailu-:":!.  ^.'iivuiii- 

!'':::i.--.    I»  - 'trir"-  .   S:-.  .■:;!,i*iM;i.  S:-:;:.  II  c. 

• 

It  ::.;;■  ■.'■•'.  :  al!  -iM!!i  1  vp  in  tin-*'-  iwup 
v.*  l:.A  I- .■ !  11.  l»'iii' ;.-!ri!:«»ii  .  as  \v«H 
kii"\vi::-.  I  ".I  Cla— :«.  ■■!'  i- ••■?•«  laup-at.  to 
\\!:nmi»  1  I •!■■■•  i '.1 1 1'  < '::.\'ii-''r"»  i.ilf  l»y  till* 
SjUJi  !'.  :;'\iT  \'  I  !■•!■!  <'•!'  1-y  ani«'  in  tlu* 
saiii'-  "^Tai!:--:  '*;■•  w'.  'li  l'«»rini-.  1  m1««i> 
ill  :!■.:-  '.  •■  iM  -'..i!'.  a:i.!  in  iiiv  i»'"Tii-al 
\iH-.  ■:.*.  lir-!  aii  i  -.■■lul  I'a'i*  •>.  a'l-l  in 
mv  Twriu*  ni-»;.''.!ii .-  ol..-*!  r\i\  ami  fx- 
pniplifve  .  tilt  li.iiin.- Poiia.  lii-ingi-liTived 


of  iroifd:  i-'i'zmWi'Xh  to  make  a?  a  maker; 
hMw1.i-,i*  ru  tl.tliic  xh*'  art  it  sflfe  isallai 
li.ir  i.  :j>  t'^  «1-."-  it  in-ift-df.  Im:  not  to  dot 
it  rijliily  I  .■anuvver  dt-fine  vt  soTindlj: 
N'l  tii-'-.ih  Ijff  |T.ietis»«''  tltw-  tliu5  extnl 
v!  ■.  V7.  rrini".  into  iht.-  Satvrical.  iriiek 
jr-v«-:i  >'j  otTrn^ive  to  th**  meridkB 
wht-ari-  vt  c«»nlin«*tli !  as  that  her  htfk 
iMMn  v»T  In-aro  halt"  the  »'*nimif'<  she* be- 
i;.T!.t|i  to  li«T  jM'lt".  S»"L'undn.  it  mai^be 
111' I  iu  y^  Lsrioal  v/«<Vh  hath  to  praise 
or  «it>i'r:ii— ' ;  w/cch  si-iiisfyt-th  uot  the 
V  ^!  wtti'.;  hirli  ilotince  tjt{»p  of  the 
wave  I'or  tlsv  ^uU  tu  foisl  on  particnUn 
'!'•  .i"io.  it  m:iy  ]>*.■**  oarriiHl  in  the  kind 
c  ill-  d  lit Toir.il.  i>r  Alloirorioal :  the  «"ifcdi 
lallt-L'orioal  wair  auijlingf  at  thebotroin) 
inipli"':!!  ih-'M.*  ntjter  twuiue,  and  >li 
n''i'<ii!«  flU.  iM-iiijrc  exercistil  in  »wli 
il:lV'Ti-nt  liisoant,  and  varivtie  of  T*n* 
in  ki:i'l.  a».'li?M.TtHte  art  findi'thmostcuB- 
^ru>  nt  t'l  tin-  iniisfo :  is  thtvirffuiv  moK 
ill  Iii:}it  full  to  the  most  iudicious.  u 
h  ivini;  in  yt  an  h^roical  powr  cf  callisge  [ 
th>-  hijli'-f  vu«liT>tandinpfs  of  all  others, 
a-  iianu'.v  our  masti-r  Aristotel,  Alei* 
ai.«!'  r  inagnn>,  Si-ipio  AfTricauu^,  Oc- 
taniu>  Au;rustii'*  CV»ar,  Jaeobust  AociiK 
r«'X.  with  manii-  nio**.  who€  are  H  lo 
niuih  the  nioro  uftni  liononiblic  rem^n- 
ItmI,  .^^  ihoiro  bownteous  favors  to  the 
ii.j'-niou-oiu  this  faculty. have  bin  »he**d, 
an  I  rlu-in  own  iudioiouit  dexterities  in  it 
al'Mwndiil.  but  is  no  nu*at<.*  for  pap**** 
|f.'kin::o  In  rini.-rs  —  out  |H>eta»iers, 
••ith  —  nius"-traduoinjri\ — witt  ahasing«i 
l*iH-ir-mi*sv>iii^el*it'ridisti's.  Inviieh 
1  i-r.  >z?  hi'njioal  kin^l ;  }IoTner  l^.•^li^^»^ 
him  »>i'ItV  til  li-ad  th»»  tlawmv.  Vii^ 
bla*'»i;«il  ihf  ru'h«'#  of  his  leamiogf  ia 
till  ••aiiii- cloth  i»f  arra.-  .  t  he  ancient  Eac- 
li>}i  I'oiic*"  (,nuanin^cal1waie!(thesovsd 
iiiir.-. I  have  dtlivond  them  of  heroical 
b<rtlii<  in  thi:;  kind  :  w7/toh  doe  Bnrnve 
III*  thrirp  «lc.va.-«-d  parentf*  ^loric,  all  cf 
till  III  ailduciniTf  a  complete  kni]zht,int2i# 
]■•  r-onatiou'i  of  twin-  in  numl»er;  aad 
mail-  a**  lawfullio  lno  instanced  in  one : 
anil  all  as  will  in  twut-.  as  ploHSeth  the 
iiiL'tiiiiuis.  lor>«iM''  Edm:  Spenoprii 
hi«*  al!i.'^«irical  dtvlaratorie,  frterely  df 
i'liiiin»li.  Xow.  for  my  own  ptirt  (rndtf 
CMri'i'Ctii.ni  I  i  ndfVDur  to  call  a  peneni 
iriu-tip  of  all  our  nul)it=>st  Guions  wlioJe 
li:-Tori«\  in  the  ^ame  kind  al«o,  as  beiaf* 
nio-t  pn»pcr  tor  it.  and  him ;  but  withoct  | 
d'=-i'og:itiuge  from  the  desert  ofoaraadeit 


GUY   AND   COLEBRANDE. 


523 


£nglish  poetfl  first  plott:  the  w^tch  (re- 
presentinge  excellent)  was  written  all- 
most  three  hundred  yeeres  gonn,  by  Don 
LidgHte,  and  since  him,  by  Juhn  Rowse  & 
Pepulwick.  But  wheare  all  they  had 
theire  first  president!  is  now  by  the 
ancient  historiens  verie  hard  to  prove ; 
for  that  in  our  greate  combustion  of  anti- 
quitie,  they  suflfred  shippwrack:  Not- 
withstandinge,  some  of  them  escaped  y* 
distroier,  and  are  yet  extant,  &  well 
preserved  by  the  singular  industries  of 
OBxn,  that  waie  both  studious,  and  learned : 
amongst  whome,  M'  Thomas  Allen,  in 
the  leamedst  ranckes  hath  reputation; 
aa  Sir  Robert  Coton  knight  his  Industrie 
in  thifl  kind,  hath  singular  commendation. 
All  these  ancient  Cronoclers  wrote  of 
Ouies  person,  &  greate  prowes ;  namely, 
Henricus  Knighton,  Thomas  Kadburn, 
Giraldns  Comubiensis,  Johannes  Strench, 
Johannes  Hardinge,  Johannes  Gresley, 
Johannes  Powtrel :  all  beinge  manu- 
flcriptes,  never  printed,  with  many  moe, 
as  saith  John  Rosse,  whoe  dilligentlie  in 
m.  Hen:  the  seavnths  time  collected 
them  on  the  point  of  Gwy,  while  the 
Teoordes  weare  yet  extant,  every  of  them 
•Toochinge  his  overcominge  of  Colbrand 
OD  the  same  conditions,  whkh  tradition 
liath  ever  since  that  time  maintained. 
CTionica  cronicorum  affirmeth  the  same, 
though  at  the  second  hand,  and  with 
miBsnaminge  of  Giraldus  Cambrensis, 
for  Giraldus  Comubiensis.  Yet  all  this 
notwithstandmge !  our  valient  Guy  is  so 
Tnfortonate  amongste  our  late  Croniclers, 
as  that  they  are  pleased  to  saie  lesse  of 
him,  then  Hanibals  epitaph,  amounted 
▼nto.  Amongst  whome !  som  of  oures, 
(but  vnkindlie  for  th'innocent  English 
penn,  and  that  to  this  worthies  dishonor) 
whose  person  they  confesse;  yet  after 
boldinge  his  own  for  many  ages  in  his 
g;niTe  ex  concesso,  woold  faine  decline 
the  credite  of  all  y*  ancientf^,  conceminge 
the  conditions  of  Guyes  fightinge  the 
J>aeIlo  for  this  kingdom,  when  hee  slewe 
Colbrand  the  Affricau  giant  challenginge 
for  the  Danes:  as  yf  Sir  Guy,  beinge 
then  a  man  retired  to  obscuritie,  and 
besides  overtaken  of  old  age;  shoold,  or 
woold  runn  at  a  masterie  so  daungerous 
for  glorie,  wAich  hee  contemned :  and 
Botrppon  the  necessitie  of  that  occasion. 
bat  this  presumptuous  kind  of  novitions 
writinge,  maie  rest  assured,  that  onlie 


one  of  yonder  ancientes,  livinge  neerer 
the  time  ot  the  famous  Guy  by  some 
hundreds  of  yeeres,  will  carrie  more 
credite!  then  one  thowsand  such  newe, 
offringe  so  forwardly,  which  must  needes 
bee  ignorantlie,  sith  not  havinge  scene 
anie  of  the  manuscriptes  before  men- 
tioned. Howbeeit,  John  Stowes  note  of 
Guy,  is  perfecter  then  all  the  rest  of  the 
newe.  Against  wAich  manner  of  histori- 
fyenge,  wnich  intendeth  but  to  vex  the 
credite  of  antiquity,  (speakinge  this 
vnder  correction,  and  i^athout  taxinge 
the  good  endevoure  of  anie  man,  or  the 
person  it  selfe)  Poetrie  hath  to  bringe 
her  action  of  encrochment,  for  vsurpinge 
on  her  licence  of  allusion  in  matter  of 
fact,  and  it  applienge  to  historic  of  longe 
before  our  new  writers  times :  wkuik 
manner,  scarce  is  historicum  dicendi 
genus,  but  is  goodly  to  shewe  with  what 
eloqution  such  endewe  them  selves  with 
all,  and  to  enlarge  tomes  beyond  movinge, 
without  the  helpe  of  a  porter.  In  ths 
meane  time,  the  precise  naked  integritie 
of  the  ancientes,  gave  (with  more  brevi- 
tie)  accompt,  rather  of  plaine  fact,  as  it 
was  indeede,  then  of  affected  eloquence 
poeticalie  interlined  (but  vnlawfullie)  in 
historic.  Which  new  fluence,  breeding 
affluence,  will  shortlie  leave  in  evidence, 
that  what  Poetrie  doth  idealie  deliver 
for  fiction!  is  trewe;  constant  truith 
standing  vp  her  perpetual  ensigne :  and 
wliat  this  novel  kind  of  historifienge 
affirmeth  for  trewe  !  is  false,  sitli  mixed. 
For,  marck  if  theire  affected  insinuations 
doe  not  purposely  wooe  these  three 
common  concubines  Partial i tie!  feare! 
flattery!  and  on  them  begetteth  the 
bastanl  falsity!  a  chaungelin,  the  which 
mote  these  faeries  overlive  them  selves  ! 
and  the  parties  they  have  with  theire 
mowth  glewe  starched!  they  woold  not 
faile  so  to  stripp  off*  theire  old  skinn, 
cast  all  theire  loose  haier,  and  rcctifie 
theire  new  sett  countenaunce  att  annothw 
glasse ;  as  that  Proteus  him  selfe  woold 
not  bee  able  to  knowe  them.  How  then 
may  such  bee  trusted  to  bee  cited  in 
other  discent^d  do  futuro?  yf  not  as 
trewly  reportinge !  as  doth  positive  divi- 
nitie  in  schooles:  with  whome,  to  growe 
to  particulars,  woold  surelie  provoke 
theire  passion,  but  theire  integritie 
never.  On  thother  side,  sownd  Poetrie 
of  the  ancient  manner,  suflTreth  no  alter- 


M  M  2 


•  il'Y    AND   COLEBRAXDE. 


:*.  j.i  \     •  Ax-  ■: .. 


ir. 


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!:•  ■  ..  ».i  ;.-.  •.:.  i  :.  *  a  •..  *  :..  It-e  a*. 
ul"  .  ■  .".  ':.-■•*  :"..-a-.-  li  •  l-rvr  kr.- w  i: 
z.  •*  '  .T  «:.:■  ■»'-?  :...?•  T.*k-  :*:.'. ire 
^   rl  -     :•  r    .■.•:•■:.  •.*.   -.1.    .vj..-.-*t    :hc 

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r.  : 


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a  •■■■  .«*  ■ 

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?..r  •.:-•.:  ::.-  -i  :■ -.  v  .- 1  ui.^'7  .:k-  .'.-t 

••  :.  1.7-.  :.  v:-  r  •.":.■  r  :.*  n;  k.-* ». r*.  in  i:-.  t 
■^'  .;.-r._-'  !.>  :::-:■.■•.■■::  i--. :.  •  rL:c^  :':i- 
i ■...■..-.  'f  ■:•  r''!  .:>■■  :.!*.m  orv-Krv. 
"^V::.  ir-.-is  L.-'.^-.'i  :.  i*::  :•-:  iK*.:v-lit' :'■•!- 
1  W"l  :l.r'  .i.i\>f  I-:  :].v  ^.■.nu■  Ar:>:  •:! 
iriv- :.  :  r  T'-Trv  •..:•  ■■:'  t"W::  iir.ir  vi  t.n 
.1-:.  :.>:■. r.i-.  au  i  :;.»  •s::ui-  .u:i  rr.iin:.  Cf 
ir.  .1  *:.  r*  *•:::•  :  \"''''  w'-.'-h  jn-otj-^'j*. 
I.  ij.iV  :..i**.  ■i-wl.'  jir:  ■rT:i«-il  in  :l;is 
i:  i:.:.'r.  v.z  t;.-'  t-':- :.  :.«"•  :i::.i!  M.*:;:;'* 
v;.  ■  ■  '.  ■■:  \>  \v.'  -l.-'r.  ii:.'i  !■. Uihi:-.^i« 
:.•...•'.  .. :  -;  r'.i- '  I-.-lj-i:-  t  «:.•!  this  i>{ 
<.i'.v.  !:r-t  r  •.■:■:•':  ?'V  iiin'.  l':*  l*«ir:iu- 
1  ••  ■>>.  ..:.{  \y  !i..\:.U'  i  tiur  tTt-i.ioi- r» 
1  ■ :" -r:  :.;i!!.i.!.  I'm-:-!!-.  t!.;i:  th-'  c  -i  U-i 
N'  rT.Li:.i;«.  \*:."«-  ^Miiir  in  with  the  i\'ii- 
»j':.T'. '.ir.  .it.-l  \*«.ar»    f.irl* -  tif  Wjirwiik 

V. 'Ti*  ;itr»T  lir.v.  i:..iii.Iv  ihc  faniilio  ut* 
•  •  • 

ri.;iu.  h.iinp.  "-r  I'm  li'-vMni|f.  ii.;iiiy  yt•t•lv^ 
af:«r  'l.:i-  ;  r-  i'.iiv'i-*!  i'»  i":iit-  tln-ni  MiVes 
t'l  til.'  Tji(.ni>r';f  of  f.hls  ;inn  auoislor: 
un<l  ii:«l  ii'jt  «•!:'. if  rrpairf  th'»!"f  iii'inu- 
iin-rivs  wt-ar?  l""\viiil  i-f  O'iy.  l-ut  udiKtl 
>i'iiu'w!iit  ♦■ll'.'i.  Tiius  LMj.it  tiiit-rlit' 
tl:s»!;.irji :!»'•■  Irisi  .-t-Il'*-.  l«\i\i:!i  it  appa- 
r..ni.  x\:.i*  tli'  iiMn-  hi>turii:i.  is  of  all 
(I'ihi-r  inf(>-vi>!  tlir  mort  nialignaut  to- 
wanl  till  I't^tt  lii«turii'al :  «h>inie  hee 
viuKr>.Tan«]«:ih  iH't :  thoiurh  him  the 
r.K.t  «.l'«th.  at  anil  hai»  r.  is  thwircfore  the 
iM«'-t  vijtlr:  to  aociiM"'.  «ir  ciiisun*  the 
in-lustrious.  in  the  samt-  casv.  that  Prini-e 
]{'«t<r,  a!i>l  kinpri*  Artur  male  al»o  bee 


•  :  luVrei  of.  l-ooause  thev  likewise  hat* 
lir.n  {••>-:;\:aUtr  hibtori6eJ  by  poete^  pro- 
s^^uutink'*.-  idt-al  reriiic.  oi  the  histomi 
pnttrU'ivih  p'OfiitiTe  truith.  Bat  now 
al;i^  M>  sit^kly!  sith  temptod  by  yosdn 
ibro^  fvuutaice  troublinse  faeiies,  that 
<a!^  :Lf  wurld  wagceth.^  it  is  haider  tA 
tiL'i  a:in  ancient  i-mX  false,  thea  a  nnr 
l;i*>t"rit-n  trewe:  while  beoimbibeth that 
riTK-kf  {1  nn  swoln  humor,  newly  cleaped 
th'-  art  uf  rvformatiun :  meaninge  tht 
»sin;e  art.  wAioh  our  cxocUently  leaned 
kciiiht  Sir  Hcnric  Siiuyl  in  his  anoola- 
ti<>!!«  vp{-<n  T:u:itus.  xnvtt  stealinffe  onr 
•-a  ki:l.rrwani.  ^"ppon  whusc  liold  fore- 
hi  id.  het-  riooreih  a  IfCturo,  wheareof  f>bei 
is  hartllic  capaMe  szt  of  mon>  znndestic; 
W,azv  it  nt.it  thearefore  better,  that  I>« 
Ktrvklfy  i  the  ferriman)  bee  dclt  with  all, 
t«>  !>hipp  her  book  againe?  sith  none  tlut 
k:.'Wi>,  iru!>tes  her  for  strawes;  niher 
;:.cn  thu^,  through  her  enrious suppress* 
iriiTc  thf  hfn■r^.  to  disn>urag«  the  fettili 
w  :ttt'>  of  our  Englishe  nation.  w4ioh  wean 
n.i'iie  t<ii*oni'/ir  into  the  deservinge  ran^ 
with  the  Grt-ekes,  Latine«  and  Italienes. 
t^>  r^newi-  that  poetical  reputation  it  in- 
hvriird  of  old,  but  fur  this  odd  fa^hiot 
of  {'n-»unied-sinceare  wiiMluni,  don 
^:riklnt^.'  with  her  li^htned  thandexl<olt 
i!;i'  di-oc>iMrd.  Whoe  in  theix^  tinui 
iwith-mt  oumparisou)  Mjied  on  no  com- 
tinijtil'lo  i-iMnion.  au  hnrtninge  of  the 
fvrant  r.  to  di-tract  al:^.  But  if  it  sbjoU 
be*'  iiiipi»i-il  nn  the  me^re  hi^toriens  <.so 
Will  liet-M  em-  in  antiquities,  andglistringc 
ni  ih»-  reformativeai  ufnrf«aid)  to  it^ca- 
ciii-  tlntsc  Pivmes  of  Chaucer,  and  lid- 
catf.  &  uf  ^omthe  other  later  £ngli«li 
leviu  the  Ifst  of  that  kind,  wiUch 
^tairrh  nr>t  yt  selfe  on  particulars  oalr, 
the  wAiL-h  kind  was.  is,  and  ererwilbrs 
s«'ai!<!.il«iu>i  to  bee  all  one  thinge  nri- 
ously  tRinspc»i>fd!  it  mote  channce  to 
]>«•.«•'  thi-m  all  though  to  the  poet  it  be< 
I-i*>ible  tu  give  a  tract,  wAieh  cana 
satisfy  all  men,  on  whut  kinds  of  Ican- 
insre  tf«Kvor  they  insist !  And  tutbcr 
dl-]nllI!^t^ltt^  how  that  a  forane  port 
(esttviutti  excellent,  but  dcalinge  with 
holie  script  UK  in  the  Letter)  hath  fron 
trewe  poetries  waiese  (meaninge  the  §■- 
cient"^  not  a  litle  erred :  forasmuch  as  itii 
Will  knowen  to  the  Academick  Clun* 
Laureate,  that  not  good  Terse  alone,  oor 
prose  alone,  ne  store  of  similes,  or  aami 
discription  with  allusion  oulie.  and  the 


GUT  AND   COLEBRANDE. 


525 


like,  doe  make  poetrie  complete.  Yet 
beinge  of  it!  cann  at  the  most  amount 
but  to  Sermocioation,  of  prose  tumd 
Terse,  Thus  yf  Poetes  bee  of  my  iury ! 
I  hope  I  have  not  provoked  anie  dis- 
creete  manns  choler,  in  thus  showldringe 
(though  weakelj,  to  poetries  behoof)  for 
the  same  roome  for  her,  wAich  Porphirie 
in  schooles  collateth  szt  habet  esse  in 
genere  demonstrantium ;  and  thearfore 
without  leaye,  is  worthie  of  own  in- 
genious reputation  as  well  now,  as  then ; 
to  whome  ancient  learninge  woold  never 
give  the  lye,  for  doubt  of  pledginge  the 
new  in  apium  risus.  Otherwise,  even 
Cornelius  Agrippa,  ipse  aries  (for  all 
his  occult  phitoeophick  lookes)  maie 
chaunce  in  this  straine,  to  sitt  beatinge 
bis  heeles  without  the  muses  gates, 
singinge  to  own  vanity,  Beati  qui  non 
intelligunt.  more  mote  bee  brought  how 
lustie  some  historiens  deport  them  on 
own  glorious  ostentation,  as  yf  theare 
weare  none  to  them !  sith  vncivilie  taun- 
tinge,  discreditingc,  degradinge,  and  con- 
trowlinge  deiect^  poetrie  (the  ideal 
model  of  moral  demonstratives)  wAich 
ever  was  rara  auis  in  terris,  and  knoweth 
what  shee  doth,  without  such  as  publish 
ann  ignorance,  never  ingendred  in 
achooles :  for  Poetrie  hath  waies  by  her 
eelfe.  Whearfore  such  angrie  quill- 
men  maie,  (when  they  knowe  more) 
blnsh  of  own  shame,  yf  shee  acquitt  her 
self  from  beinge  either  ward !  or  tcnent 


at  will  to  thpm !  Howbeet  love  prcdomi- 
natin^e  with  vs,  concealeth  names,  that 
by  this  litle  (gent lie  ment,)  they  woold 
bee  pleased  to  amend  much  ;  which  more 
woold  commend  their  own  learninge,  yf 
not  indignlie  baiting  sound  poetrie  of 
virtuous  institute;  and  thearfore  so 
much  the  more  esteemed  by  the  most 
noble,  most  honorable,  most  valient, 
wise,  and  learned,  as  thinge  (by  som 
maintained)  wAtch  none  maie  teach  to 
other :  Least  elles  shee  complaine  her  to 
all  her  ingenious  pupills,  whoe  cann 
byte  home  yf  bytten.  I  never  had  the 
philosophers  stone,  whearewith  to  pro- 
mise our  Guyon,  in  suche  daintie  limned 
worck,  as  Ariostoes  orlando  hath  fownd 
since  hee  came  into  England  ;  neverthe- 
les  this  meanethe  historicalie  with  the 
ancientes,  to  present  Sir  Gwies  youth, 
manwood,  and  old  age:  his  love,  warr, 
&  mortification,  all  sommed  vp  in  his 
liefe,  and  death,  and  that  accordinge  to 
our  most  ancient  historiens,  poetes, 
heraltes  recordes,  publick  monumentes, 
and  tradicion  also,  wA/ch  somtime  is  a 
never  dienge  trewe  cronicler.  Thus  not 
havinge  whearewith  ells  to  expresse  my 
poore  service  vnto  you  then  in  this 
expense  of  times  leasure  with  takinge 
humblest  leave  doe  recommend  it  vnto 
you,  and  you  all,  (o  thalmightie. 
this  of 

Yowr  verie  lovinge  frend 
Jo:  La: 


See  Mrs.  Jameson^s  Sacred  and  Legend- 
ary Art.  Alexis'  father  wishes  him  to 
marry,  and  chooses  him  a  bride.  "  On  the 
appointed  day  the  nuptials  were  celebrated 
with  great  pomp  and  festivity  ;  but  when 
the  evening  came  the  bride-groom  had 
disappeared,  and  they  sought  him  every- 
where in  vain  ;  and  when  they  questioned 
the  bride,  she  answered,  'Behold,  he  came 
into  my  chamber  and  gave  me  this  ring  of 
gold,  and  this  girdle  of  precious  stones, 
and  this  veil  of  purple,  and  then  he  bade 
roe  farewell,  and  I  know  not  whither  he  is 
gone.'  And  they  were  all  astonished ;  and 
seeing  he  returned  not,  they  gave  them- 
selves up  to  gprief:  his  mother  spread 
sackcloth  on  the  earth  and  sprinkled  it 
with  ashes,  and  sat  down  upon  it ;  and  his 


wife  took  off  her  jewels  and  bridal  robes, 
and  darkened  her  windows,  and  put  on 
widow's  attire,  weeping  continually  ;  and 
Euphemian  sent  servants  and  mesFcngers 
to  all  parts  of  the  world  to  seek  his  son, 
but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  In  the 
meantime,  Alexis,  after  taking  leave  of 
his  bride,  disguised  himself  in  the  habit 
of  a  pilgrim,  fled  from  his  father's  house, 
and  tnrowing  himself  into  a  little  boat,  he 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Tiber ;  at  Ostia 
he  embarked  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Lao- 
dicea,  and  thence  he  repaired  to  Edessa, 
a  city  of  Mesopotamia,  and  dwelt  there 
in  great  poverty  and  humility,  spending 
his  days  in  ministering  to  the  sick  and 
poor,  and  in  devotion  to  the  Madonna, 
until  the  people  who  beheld  his  great 


/  - 


«     '.\ 


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\  - 


T 


■V       ^ 


GUT  AND   COLEBRANDE. 


527 


[The  First  Part.] 

[How  Guy  undertakes  to  fight  a  Danish  Giant.] 

When  :  mc^te  &  drinke  is  great  plentye,    [pace  849] 
then  lords  and  Ladyes  still  wilbe, 
&  sitt,  &  solace  Ijthe '  ; 
4     then  itt  is  time  ffor  mee  to  speake 
of  keene  knights  <fc  kempes  ^  great, 
such  carping  ffor  to  kythe,* 

how  they  haue  conquered,  for  Englands  right : 
8     with  helme  vpon  head,  with  halbert  *  bright, 
finll  ofb  &  many  a  sithe  ^ 
they  *  haue  burnt  by  dale  and  downe, 
citye,  castle,  tower,  &  towne, 
la         <fc  made  beames  vnblythe  ; 

made  Ladyes  ffor  to  weepe  with  dreery  mood, 
when  theire  ffreinds  ought  ayled  but  good, 
their  hands  ^  to  wring  and  writhe.® 
16     of  all  cronicles  ffarr  and  neere, 

were  ®  any  deeds  of  armes  weere,*® 
the  most  I  prayse  Sir  Guy 

of  warwicke !    that  noble  knight 
80     ofl  times  ffor  Englands  right 
hath  done  ffuU  worthylye ; 

yett  hee  kept  itt  as  priuilye 

as  tho  itt  had  neuer  beene  hee, 
24         without  noyse  or  crye. 

<fc  when  he  came  ouer  the  salt  ffome 
firom  Sir  Terrey  of  Gorwaine,** 


At  feaata 


IteUof 
knighta  and 
varrion 


who  hara 


burnt  towon 
And  towna, 


and  made 
women  weep 
for  their 
friends. 


AboTeall 
heroes 


Iput  Guy  of 
Warwick, 


who  kept 
secret  his 
noble  deeds 
for  England. 


When  he 
came  back 


•  soft,  gentle. — P.     listen  to. — F. 

•  kempCf  a  soldier,  Champion ;  kcmpt 
to  contend.     »Scot.  vid.  Gl.  aa  G.D.— P. 

•  A.-S.  ct/^an^  to  make  known,  relate. 
— F. 

«  haubepk.~P. 

•  sithef  vices   (time)    Lje;    Chaucfr. 
—P. 

•  The  Dane8.~P. 


'  MS.  landg.— F.    hands.— P. 

•  The  author  wrote  *'  wry." — Dyce. 

•  where. — P. 

*•  There  is  a  tag  to  the  e. — F. 

"  Sir  Thierry  of  Gurmoise,  in  the  Af- 
fleck Romance  as  analysed  by  Ellis,  first 
Guy's  opponent,  then  the  friend  rescued 
by  him.  See  EUis,  p.  204,  214,  218, 
223  (ed.  Bohn).— F. 


528 


GUT   AXD   COLEBBANDE. 


fr<jm  helping; 
Sir  Tenrey, 


he  drr«!!ed  S" 
a  U.ytrar, 


and  only 
•nqair«<l 
•buut 
Warwick. 

Athol^tan 
was  then 
Itcsieged  in 
WincDMter 


by  the 

Danish  king, 
Avelocke, 


who«« 
Giant 


wa«  all 
armod  in 
plate, 


and  had 
sworn  to 
subdue  all 
England. 


No  English 
knight  dares 
fight  him. 


Athelstan 
prays ; 


a  knight  of  maine  and  moode, 
2«     tfor  ffeare  lest  any  one  shold  him  know, 
he  kept  him  in  silly  beggars  rowe 
where  euer  hee  went  or  stood  ; 

&  euer  he  spcrred  '  priuilicke 

32     how  they  ffarcd  att  warwicke, 
&  how  they  lined  there. 
K/?///  Athels[t]one,  the  truth  to  say, 
att  the  towne  of  Winchester  there  he  lay 

36         w/th  one  soe  royall  a  ffare. 

the  King  of  Denmarke,  Auelocke,* 
he  into  England  brought  a  fflocke 

of  beames  as  breeme  as  beare  • ; 
40     &  with  him  a  Gyant  stiffe  &  starke, 
a  Lodlye  devill  out  of  Denmarke  : 

such  another  you  neuer  saw  yore  : 

hee  was  rayed  richlye  with  royall  plate 
44     both  legg  &  arme,  you  may  well  wott^* 
in  armor  bright  to  be  seene  ; 

he  brought  weapon, — who  list  ffor  to  read — 

more  then  any  cart  could  lead,* 
48         to  ding  men  downe  by-deene  ; 

&  swore  othes  great  and  grim, 
that  all  p]ngland  shold  hold  of  him, 

or  he  would  kindle  their  care. 
52      then  in  England  there  was  neuer  a  linight 
that  once  w/th  him  durst  ffight, — 

flfull  sore  ^  he  did  them  dread, ^ — 

neither  w/th  Auelocke  nor  Athelstone. 
56     then  our  King,  to  Christ  he  made  his  moane, 


'  i.p.  enquired. — P.  There  are  two 
strokes  for  the  seeoud  /  mpriuUiike. — F. 

2  Anlaf,  in  the  Affleek  MS.  The 
ehange  here  is  due,  no  doubt,  to  the 
Romance  of  Havelok  the  Dane. — i\ 


•  boarc.  q. — P.      Awr  is  the  regular 
word.— F.  *  wate,  wect^  q.— P- 

•  fort  A    pro    (lade,  i.e.)   load,  1.-& 
hladan,  B.  Iseden. — ^P, 

•  soe  sore. — P.  »  darc^  q.— F- 


GUT   A9D   OOLEBRAXDI. 


529 


M 


7S 


•O 


M 


IBA 


•DdMtoklB 

togo«ar|jr 
tottat  guta*, 

flwiMiold 

BAD  dkiA 


&  to  his  mother  bright  to  be  seene. 
then  one  Night  ma  our  Kifi^  Uj  in  a  vision, 
there  came  an  Angell  downe  ffrom  heanen 
io        to  lett  him  mderstand  * : 

he  sajd,  "  rise  yp  in  the  morning  by  prime,* 
A  goe  to  the  gates  in  a  good  time ; 

an  old  man  shall  joa  flind  there, 
both  With  his  scripp  and  his  pike, 
as  Mat  hee  were  palmer  like, 

lowring  •  mder  his  here.* 
rpon  thj  knees,  Sir  King,  looke  thoa  kneele  him  to,  BimWH 
A  praj  him  the  battell  to  doe,  Ut  th* 

flbr  his  lone  thai  Many  bore.*  *' 

with  thai  the  Angell  vanished  away, 
bot  more  of  this  Gjant  I  hane  to  say. 

as  I  hane  heard  my  Elders  tell, 
he  was  soe  ffbale  St  soo  great  coarse,* 
That  neither  might  beare  him  steed  nor  horsse ; 

men  thought  he  came  ffrom  hell. 

the[n]  bespake  a  Squier  prioiljc : 

*' where  is  the  Kni'^At  men  call  Sir  Ooy, 

some  time  ^  in  this  land  did  dwell  ? 
or  Sir  Arrard  *  of  arden  alsoe  ? 
the  one  of  these  might  thither  goe 

the  Gjant  ffbr  to  quell." 

then  bespake  him  an  Erie  in  //«it  while, 
Sl  sats,  **  Sir  Guy  is  now  in  Exile, 

no  man  knowes  wh[ijthcr  or  whore; 
he  had  but  one  sonne,  &  ho  hight  liainbome  ; 
a  merchant  stold  him  ffrom  wallingford  tow  no, 

ouer  the  seas  with  him  to  ffarc  ; 


tohte 


[|«f«SIO] 


(k  aqnlrt 


orSb 
Arrmnlaf 


woiUdflfhi 


Gartote 

Rki«ai 
a«lllbuff»rU 


*  ktB  k^  aright,  q- P. 

*  Firtrnt,  th«>  flriC  boorr  of  the  (Ur  (in 
At  hmn  m  dockr,  in  Winter  mi 

}     CvCmr*.- p. 

*  Oalj  Wf  tb«  ■  is  Ui«  MH.~F. 
.9.— P.    k««.hair.-F. 


•  Urr.  q.     v. 

•  if.  C'*»q>«f.     P. 

'  ttmr  in  th^  MS— F. 

•  8ir  Hrnud.  tivv't  UiutjfoaiptaMNi. 
then  *'in  n  dnxt§mm  tm  tk*  coMt  of 


530 


OUT   AND   COLEBRANDE. 


and  his  wife, 
Felix. 


IhinkH  hp, 
Guy,  i» 
dead.") 

Next 
mominfr, 
AtbelHtAii 
goes  to  tlic 
gates, 


88     *^  the  Erie  &  the  Countcsse  beene  both  dead, 
Dame  ffelix  is  sore  adread 
of*  her  Lord,  S/r  Guye. 

"  lier  ffiither  and  mother  beene  dead  her  ffinoe ; 

92     &  soc  sheo  thinkes  S/r  Guy  is  alsoe, 
the  flower  of  knighthood  bold." 
then  p]arlye,  as  soone  as  itt  was  day, 
our  King  to  the  gates  tooke  his  way, 

96         his  ffbrward  ^  ffor  to  hold. 


findfl  an  old 
man  in 
palmers 
drcsd, 


and  pravA 
him  to  hirht 
the  giant. 


right  certaine  truth  to  tell, 

he  ffound  ^  a  man  in  the  same  apparell 

as  the  Angell  before  had  him  told. 
100    vpon  his  knees  the  King  kneeled  him.  to, 
and  jjrayd  him  the  battell  doe, 

flbr  his  loue  that  ludas  sold. 


The  rainier 
sayH 


be  is  too 
weak. 


AthoLstan 
says 

(;o<1  wills 
that  he 
should  fight. 

"Then  I 
will," 
answers  he. 


then  answered  the  Palmer  right, 
104    &  sayd,  *^  in  England  you  hauo  many  a  Knt^^t 
the  battell  that  may  doe. 

I  am  brused  in  my  body,  <fc  am  vnyeeld  *  ; 

alas,  I  may  no  wepons  welde ! 
108        behold,  &  take  good  heede  * !  " 

our  King  sayd  the  palmer  vntill, 
"  well  I  wott  itt  is  gods  will 

you  shold  helpe  me  in  my  need* !  " 
112    "  If  thai  be  soe,"  the  palmer  did  speake, 

"  by  the  might  of  Christ  I  shall  thee  wreakd;^ 

if  I  had  armour  &  sheild." 


Atheli<tan 


our  King  of  this  hee  was  ffuU  fiaine, 
116    &  soe  were  all  his  lords  certaine. 


»  for,  q.— P. 

*  agreement:  with  the  angel? — F. 
»  MS.  faund.-F. 

*  unwielde  or  unweld,  q.  Chauc. — P. 


^  Then  take    good  heed    thereto,  q. 
—P. 

•  in  the  field,  q.— P. 
'  revenge. — P. 


OUT   AND  COLEBRANDB. 


531 


to  a  CKamlxT  they  cold  him  Lead  ; 
the  J  iMmght  vp  Armour  bright  and  ffaire, 
inoa^h  fibr  any  Khyj  to  hauo  in  store,' 
ISO        dc  thcj  best  they  did  him  bidd. 

bat  meeto  for  his  bo<ly  there  was  none, 
he  was  soe  hirgc  of  blood  and  bone, 
th€»  ffiTssest*  ihai  euer  was  fiinld. 
1S4    the  day  of  l>attell  drew  neere  hand  ; 
iHit  5  dayc*s  before,  as  I  vnderstuiid, 
oar  king  was  sore  affrayd. 


offenhlm 
armoor, 


but  none 
will  fit  him. 
iMtoaobif. 


The  day  of 
battle  draws 


then  Uftipake  the  palmer  priuilye, 
I W    "  where  is  the  Kni^jht  men  call  Sir  Ouye  ? 
sometimes  in  this  land  he  dyd  dwell '  ; 

once  I  s(H*  him  Ix^vond  the  sea ; 

his  Annoure  I  thinko  wold  seme  mee 
13S         in  liatU'Il  stifllve  to  stand.** 

the  KiViy  did  thereto  assent ; 

the  Ki'iij/K  messenger  to  warwickc  went, 

the  Coanti^SM?  soone  he  ffonnd.^ 
134    before  her  he  kniK^Ied  him  on  his  knee, 

prayed  her  of  the  armor  belongeil  to  S/r  Guy 

when  he  was  a-Iiue  liuamle.*^ 

shee  Kau^rht  vp  armoure  fTiiirt*  to  lH*e  seene : 
140    Sir  Guyt'H  swonl  was  shar|K>  A'  keene, 
hims4'lfe  was  wotint  to  Wfart*. 

to  the  towne  of  Winchester  tliey  diti  itt  bring ; 

ffull  gladd  therof  then  was  tlie  KZ/iy, 
144         dc  many  M<rt  with  him  there  wen*. 

then  the  rayed  the  {mlmer  anon-risrht 

With  helme  %'|Kin  hea«l,  w/th  halU  rt  ^  hri^^lit  ; 


The  Pall 
rainrcato 
that  Gay's 
amoar  will 
fit  bim. 


Athelttan 
•emUto  the 
CoonfceM  for 
It. 


and  «be 
■rud«lt 
back,  with 
Oay's  iword. 


Th«y  arat 
blm. 


•  fo  wrar.  n       p. 

»  MS  ffprflUt-F. 

'  hr  dkl  dwfll  in  th:«  Unti.  q. 


•  fMriil.  4  -  l». 

'  alivr  un  grottm).  q. 

•  haulirrk.  4  —P. 


-  r 


.32 


GU7    AND   COLEBRANDE. 


ho  mount*, 
an>i  riilt>s 
forth. 


"Wlirn  hp 


Guy  dii*- 
Diountsi, 

and  prays 

to  Christ 


to  jfrant  him 
Btn-ufrth  to 


tree  Knu'laml 
fn»in  th».' 
Danish  voko. 


ThJ'n  he 
f«Iiriii^'«  into 
the  iNiMldle, 


nnd  Atlu'l- 


ho  nevor 
wiw  any  ono 
du  thut 
oxt'opt  Sir 
Guy. 


they  raught  him  sheild  and  apeare. 
14S    Then  lie  lope  on  horsbacke  w/th  good  entent,   [p.Mi] 
&  fliorth  of  the  gates  then  hee  went, 

his  ffoes  ffor  to  ffeare. 
then  al  be-spread  *  was  the  fieild 
152    w/th  helme  vpon  head,  w/th  shining  sbeild,' 
as  breeme  '  as  any  beare.* 

A  when  the  palmer  all  the  armes  sawe, 
he  lighted  downe,  &  list  not  lange, 
156        but  he  mad  his  prayers  arright*: 
"  Christ  I  thai  suffered  wounds  5, 
&  raised  Lazarus  ffrom  dath  to  liffe,^ 
to  grant  mee  speech  &  sight, — 
ICO    il'  saued  danyell  the  Lyons  ffroe, 

&  borrowed  "  Susanna  out  of  woe, — 
to  grant  vs  strenght  &  might, 

"  fJmt  I  may  England  out  of  thraldome  bring 
164    &  not  let  vnder^  the  danish  King 
haue  litle  Kngland  att  his  will." 

then  w/thout  any  stirropp  verament 

into  the  saddle  he  sprent, 
168        &  sate  there  sadd  and  still. 

our  K//<(/  said,  "  by  gods  grace 
this  riseth  ffrom  a  light  liueraes,' 

and  of  an  Egar  will. 
172    1  neuer  kneww  no  man  that  soe  cold  hane  done, 
but  old  Sir  Guy  of  warw[i]cke  towne, 

thai  curteous  knight  himselfe.*®  " 


'  MS.  allte  sprnul. — F.  all  bosprciid. 
—  P. 

2  ArVith  IlaulxTk  ^littmnd  bright, 
query. — P. 

'  MS.  Itn-ruc.— F. 

*  Vioar.  cj".  --P.  liorc  \s  tho  old  word  ; 
Imt  tlie  rliyino  with  fmre  makes  tho 
change  necessary.     See  too  1.  39. — F. 

*  prayers  thore. — P. 


•  from  dead  on  live,  q. — P. 

'  borrow,  nb.  A.-S.  beorgan ;  wmi*. 
custodirc. — P. 

"  d«-lond.— P. 

»  ninibleness.    See  Uuer^  toI.  i.  p.  17, 
1.    4f>.      Fr.   (fe/:vre  de  sa  personiu,  « 
active  nimble  wight.     CotgraTw.— F. 
"  himsel.    Boreal.  D. — ^P. 


OCT  AMD  COLEBRANDE. 


533 


[The  Second  Part.] 

[How  Sir  Oaj  6ghU  and  kilb  the  Danuih  QUnt] 
The  G jant  was  the  ffirat  thai  tooko  the  place  ;    The  fool 


tf  pmrtaJ 


176         vglyo  he  was,  and  ffbulo  of  ffaco  ; 

the  danish  men  began  to  smile, 
he  wold  neither  mnne  nor  leape, 
hat  layd  all  his  weapons  vpon  a  heape, 

&>  dryd  '  himselfe  for  guile 
that  he  might  choose  of  the  best, 
that  who-socuer  with  them  hee  hitt, 

which  warr  tluit  hard  while. 

184    Trampetts  made  steeds  to  stampe  Sc  stare ; 
the  King  of  denmarke,  he  was  there, 

the  King  of  England  alsoe. 
then  the  King  of  Denmarke  a  booke  out  breade,' 
IM    A  sware  theron,  as  the  stoiy  saycs, — 
behold  Sc  take  good  heed  :  — 

"  if  the  Gyant  had  the  warrc,* 
of  England  he  wold  ncucr  cleanie  more. 
Its         neither  nyo  nor  ffurr.*  ** 

the  kinge  of  Enghmd  was  thorc  alsoe  ; 
the  same  othe  he  sware  ulsoo, — 
b<!hold  and  take  gooil  hceile,* — 

IM    **  if  the  pore  palmer  had  the  wore, 

of  England  he  wold  neuer  claime  niort*, 

while  his  liife  daycs  last  wold.** 
A.  thus  their  tnjthes  together  tht'V  Ktrak«», 
SMI    they  said  their  fHiyntnient  shold  not  Klakr, 
nor  exile  out  off  Arr.* 


OUntconm, 


■UodtitUl, 
and  trtai  hk 


Klfiff 
▲TeludM 


that  If  tba 
OUatU 

hr'U  nerer 

claim 

Bofflaod 


AtlMkUn 
•wwt  Ikfti 
If 


hit  Pklmrr 

UbDVtMl 
hcllBOt 

rUim 
Kncland. 


•  f.fft**  Jrt*sd.      V.     trinl.    -F. 

•  *  rr*df.  Irmidf,  ariMr,  St<\,  «l*<i  imM**! 
«Kkt   rlrrv.  ii\.  Ml  Chiitir.     R 

•  mrrrr  for  wrrr*.  -  V. 


*  ir.  iiiirh  nor  far 
'  «tirni|'<.     I*. 

•  inoM,  «j.— P 


r. 


534 


GUT   AND   COLEBRASDE. 


■n-.''  G-.aEi  then  the  Gyant  lond  did  crre  : 

h-  u "    '  to  the  K'fi'j  of  Denmarke  ^  these  words  says  hee, 

204         *•  l)fhold  «fc  take  good  heede  I 
von«ler  is  an  Iland  in  the  sea  : 
ffroni  me  he  can-not  scape  away, 
nor  fwsse  my  hands  indeed  ; 


kill  or  ire  vrn 

Guy, 


•n  1  cmrn 
Arif'.rtcke 

Kii.g  of 
Er.g'.ADd. 


ThcGi.int 

cro^  !••  an 
i>lAci  in 
tvro  t-arges. 

hu  t-arge  off 


iv.in  the 


saving  that 


one  ii» 
onouch  to 
carrv  il;e 
%ictor  back. 


20S    '*  but  I  shall  either  slay  him  wi'th  my  brand, 
or  drowne  him  in  vonder  salt  strand'; 

tiTro  me  he  shall  not  scape  away. 
then  I  will  w/th  niv  owne  hand 
212    crowne  thee  king  of  litle  England 
ffor  euer  and  ffor  ave/* 

that  was  true,  as  the  King  of  denmarko  thonght; 
comanded  2  barges  fforth  to  be  brought, 
216         &  either  into  one  was  done. 

the  Gyant  was  ^  the  ffirst  that  ore  did  passe. 
A'  as  soone  as  hee^  to  the  Iland  come  was, 
his  barge  there  he  thrust  him  £Erom  ; 

220    w«th  his  ffbote  S:  w/th  his  hand 
he  thrust  his  barge  firom  the  Land, 

w/th  the  watter  he  lett  itt  goe, 
he  let  itt  passe  firom  him  downe  the  streame. 
224    then  att  him  the  Gvant  wold  ffreane  * 
whv  he  wold  doe  soe. 

thou  bespake  the  Palmer  anon-right, 
"  hither  wee  be  come  ffor  to  ffight 
228         till  the  tone  of  vs  be  slaine  ; 
2  lx)tes  brought  vs  hither, 
&  therfore  came  not  both  together, 
but  one  will  bring  vs  home.® 


'  MS.  I>ommark»\ — F. 

*  Cp.  "tlun  1  was  ware  of  a  runinir 
t-tra'-id."  Yj^vt  &  Grime,  vol.  i.  p.  360. 
I.  187.— F. 

»  It  hhoM/d  be  'Sir  Guv  was.*— P. 


*  Guv.— F. 


*  frein^fraine,  interrogare,  Jbil— P. 
'  Percy  adds  (againe)     ?  Home  it  foi 


hame.-  •¥. 


OUT  AKD  COLKBBAIIDB. 


535 


tat 


C4 


(Tor  thy  Bote  thou  hast  jondor  tjde,  [p«c«sdf] 

oaer  in  thy  bote  I  tmst  to  rjde  ; 

A,  tberfore  Gjant,  Ixswaro !  " 
trumpetts  blew,  Sc  bade  them  goe  toote, 
tM    the  one  [on]  horsbacke,  the  other  on  flfoote  ' ; 
bat  Gay  to  god  was  dairc.' 

Sir  Gay  weened  well  to  doo, 
be  tooke  a  strong  spcare  <fe  rode  h[i]m  too, 
ai40        he  was  in  a  good  intent : 
althoe  he  rode  ncaer  soe  ffast, 
his  strong  spcare  on  the  Gyant  bee  brast, 
Mat  all  to  shiuers  itt  wont. 

S44    A  then  Sir  Gay  anon-right 

drew  oat  his  sword  (hat  was  soe  bright, 

thnt  many  a  man  beheld, 
Sl  on  the  Gyant  he  smote  '  soe 
S49    thai  a  qaarter  of  his  sheild  fell  him  ffroe, 
caen  vntill  the  ffeild. 

the  Gyant  against  him  made  him  bowne  ^  ; 
horsse  &  man  &  all  came  downo 
lit        r|»on  the  ground  *  soe  greene. 
throughoat  Sir  Gayeit  Hteedo 
the  (fvants  sword  to  the  groand  yeed* ; 
such  struakes  liaue  seldome^  lxH*ne  fti»i*ne. 


trnm 
■o 


Dmp«U 
una. 


and  Sir  Onj 


HetliiTen 
bUmaron 

tiMOiAOt, 


dr»wahU 
■word, 


and  cttuoff 
part  of  hia 
•htoUL 


Th«  Giant 
knocks  Gu/ 

OTW, 


and  CQU  hU 
borM  rlffhl 


ss«    then  S/r  Guy  startcil  <m  his  fei'te  flu  11  tyte,' 
A  on  the  Gyant  cold  lice  smite 

as  a  man  tfmX  had  b(H*nc  woude ; 
&  v[Min  the  (fvunt  he  Kmote  mm*  iYat^i 
avi    thai  the  Gyants  htrung  armour  all  to-brnst  ; 
then'-out  B|»rang  the  bloode. 


Gay  caU 


thmncb  tb« 
UUiit'« 
•TttMNir. 
•nd  drmw* 


'  T>.*r»-  1*  n  mark  lH-tw«fn  thf  /  Jiml 

•  i^^rr.  .,       p. 

•  «•«'.'#  lo  the  M'^      K 

•  twmdj  —V 


*  Oiir  iitn-ki-  t'lO  mjiiv  iu  th«  MS 

•     »«'lil   of    MH-iil.   <J    ■    -I*. 

•  Lvht.4.-   IV 


-F. 


536 


GUT  AND   COLEBRANDE. 


Tho  Giant 
knock*  off 
th<f  jewelled 
cnrst  ttt 
Guy's  helm, 


then  the  Gjant  hitt  Sir  Cray  Tpon  the  hebnc ; 
abone  on  his  head  the  stroake  itt  ffell ; 
S6i        itt  was  with  stones  sett, 

itt  was  w/th  precjous  stones  made ; 
Sir  Guys  helmctt  neere  assunder  yode ' ; 
such  stroakes  of  men  beene  drade. 


and  then 
Mka  Icavo 

o  drink ; 


hf'll  l»a  Guy 
du  llic  dm.iiC. 


Guy  civm 
bim  IcAVi.', 


thn  Giant 
drink:*. 


and  tlii'y 
Aglit  till 
nuon. 


268    then  the  Gyant  thirsted  sore  ; 

some  of  his  blood  he  had  lost  thore  ' ; 

&  tliis  he  sayd  on  hye : 
"  good  Sir,  &  itt  be  thy  will, 
272    giue  mo  leaue  to  drinkc  my  ffill, 
flbr  swecte  S*  Charytye  ; 

*'  and  I  will  doe  thee  the  same  deede 
anotiicr  time,  if  thou  haue  neede, 
276        I  tell  the  certainlye." 

"  why,  Ypon  that  couenant,"  Sir  Guy  can  sajinc, 
'*  goo  &  drinke  thy  ffill,  &  come  againe, 
and  heere  He  abyde  thee." 

280   beside  them  there  the  riuer  ran ; 

the  Gyant  went  &  reflfresht  him  then, 

&  came  ffull  soone  againe. 
firom  thai  itt  was  lowe  prime 
284    till  itt  was  hye  noone, 

the  dclten  strokes  with  maine.' 


Then  Guy 
thintd 


but  the  sword  thai  Sir  Guy  had  lead, 
therewith  he  kept  his  head, 
288        stoodc  ofb  in  poynt  fibr  to  be  slaine. 
then  Sir  Guy  thirsted  sore  ; 
he  had  rather  haue  had  drunke  there 
then  haue  had  England  <fe  almaigne  *  : 


yado. — P. 
»  So  Chaucer  RR  1853,  pro  tho,  vel 
ihrc,  metri  gratia. — P. 


•  amaine,  q. — P. 

*  Germany. — P. 


Omr  AHD  OOLUBAHDB. 


537 


•*  good  Sir,  iff  lit  be  thy  will, 
lett  me  goe  now  A  drinke  my  ffill, 

beffore  as  I  did  thee." 
**  DAj/'  then  Hi>yd  the  Gjant, ''  I  were  to  blame 
Tnlease  ihat  I  knew  thy  name, 

I  tell  thee  oertainlye." 

'*  why  then,"  qik^th  hee,  "  He  neae[r]  swicke  ^ ; 
my  name  ia  Guy  of  warwicke ; 

what  ahold  I  longer  layne  '  to  thee  P  " 
the  Oyant  nyd,  **  soe  might  I  awinke,* 
doest  then  thinke  lie  let  thee  drinke  P 

no !  not  ffor  all  Criatentye ! 

"^  Ah  ha!  "  qwAh  the  Gyant,  ''  hane I  Sir  Ony here  ? 
in  all  thia  world  ia  not  a  ^  peere. 

dor  ought  ikai  thoa  can  doe  or  deale,* 
thy  head  [I]  ahall  pr^aent  my  Lady  the  Qneene, 
joe    I  tell  thee  oertainlye  [bedeene.]  *  " 

then  Sir  Gny  towarda  the  riaer  came. 


the  Oyant  waa  not  light,  bat  after  him  went ; 
the  Oyant  Layd  afler  Guy  with  strokes  strong, 
an        bat  Gay  waa  light,  4  lope  againo  to  the  Land  ^ ; 
ffor  ere  he  oold  any  stroke  of  Sir  Oray  woone,* 
Gay  had  bceno  in  the  riaer  *  to  the  chane,'^ 
St  dranke  thai  did  him  gaine. 

aia    A  rp  he  start,  A  sayd  there  : 

**  thon  ffoale  traitor !  I  will  thee  lone  noe  more  *' ! 
ffor  thy  trechcry,  traytor,  thou  ahalt  abay  '• !  " 


•adadci  tht 
OiAottotei 
him  drink. 


"Toamajif 
jonllldlBMi 
your 


"Oojor 
Warwick.'* 


*'Th«iyoa 

•ha*B*i 

drink. 


niflT* 

yoarbMd 

tom7 


Qoj  mom 

iBtOtlM 


Qptohk 

ckia, 

drinka. 


IhaOlMit 
forhto 


•  smJk,  fidUr*,  d«cip«Tr.    Lje.  Q.D. 

lei.  IS  -P. 

•  lflM#  r4tf».— P. 

•  Ubur.  toU.-P. 

•  h«.-  F.  •  di'hmd.  q.-P. 

•  AildMi  by  Pi»wjr.-P. 

'  Tb*  Ouat  did  Mi  Uf  behiad  him 
lot. 


But    Ujd  aft4Mr  Oay  with  tinkm 

•troDg. 
Oqj  lope  on  tk*  Lmd  afniBe.—  P. 

•  winnf.  q.     P. 

*  Only  half  th«>  »  in  th«  MR-  P. 
*•  rhinnr.     P. 

"  I««Te  no  mnir,  o.—  P. 
••  rerl.   0.— P.      Pwbaps 
conp«rr  1.  327.— Dyc«. 


knt^l* 


▼OL.  IL  y  n 


538 


err  A5D   COLEBRA5DE. 


ftndhiuhim 
» -itroke 


thMt  CUM 


dovn  to  his 
•knlL 


these  words  spake  good  Sir  Gay, 
320    &  liffled  vp  his  swordd  on  hye, 

&  sales,  "  good  stroakes  thou  ahalt  ffeele." 
then  Sir  Gny  att  the  Gjant  smote 
a  dint  that  wonderffnll  bjterlye  bote : 
324       he  smote  assnnder  Iron  A  Steele  ; 

S/r  Guys  sword  through  the  basnett '  ran, 
&  glased  *  vpon  his  braine  pan, 
&  the  Gjant  began  to  kneele. 


The  OlAnt 
down. 


328    A  then  the  Gyant  att  Sir  Gny  smote 
a  dint  that  wonderffnll  'bitterlye  bote  ; 

he  smote  Sir  Gny  downe  to  the  gronnd. 
S/r  Gny  was  nener  soe  discomffitted  before ; 
332   but  through  ^  the  might  of  him  thai  Maiye  bore, 
rcleened  him  againe  in  ^^t  stonde. 


Ouy  thinks 
on  Christ, 


he  thought  on  Christ  that  suffered  wounds  5, 
&  raised  Lazarus  ffrom  d[e]ath  to  liffe, 
336        &  yjKm  the  crosse  was  wound, 
to  giuc  him  grace  to  qnitt  that, 
&  then  his  sword  in  his  hand  he  gatt, 
&  narr  ^  the  Gyant  did  hee  stand,^ 


nticks  the 
Giaiit 

thriuigh  tho 
breast-plate, 


but  Irroaks 
hi8  Hword. 


340    &  att  the  Gyant  there  he  smote 

a  dint  that  wonderffnll  bitterlye  bote ; 

through  his  brest-plate  his  sword  he  stake.^ 
&  as  S/r  Guy  wold  haue  wrested  itt  out^ 
344    his  good  sword  broke  wzth-on[t]  all "  doubt^ 
w/thin  the  hiltes  itt  brake ; 


»  Ihttsnet,  Helmet,  or  Head-piece 
(Freuch ) Gl.  ad  G. D.— P.  A  liffht  helmet, 
fihapt^  like  a  sktdl-cap.    Fairnolt^ — F. 

'  cliinced  or  grazed,  q. — P. 

»  bu  with  one  dot  for  hi  in  the  MS. — F. 


delend.— P. 
i.e.  nearer. — ^P, 
Bfond,  q. — ^P. 
Btrake,  Qn. — ^P. 
withoat  all,  q. — ^P. 


OUT  AMD  GOLBBBAHDB. 


539 


k  theratt  longhe  the  Danish  Ktn^, 
A  Athelfltone  made  much  moiir[n]ing 
348       to  heare  how  the  Ojant  spake : 


"  now  thon  hast  broken  thj  sword  h  thj  sheeld, 
here  is  no  wepons  (Tor  to  weld ; 
therforo  jceld  thee  to  mee  swjthe,' 
S5S    A  I  will  thy  arrand  soe  doo, 

k  to  Auclocke  our  'King  De  speake  ffbr  thee, 

to  grant  thee  land  and  lifie, 
thai  then  dorst  ffbr  thy  Chinalrye 
OM    be  soe  bold  as  ffight  wi'th  mee 

thai  am  *  soe  stifle  and  stithe.*  " 


TbeGkuii 
toUflhlm 


iMhMl 

better  yield 
mtoooe,  tad 

▲relocke 
wiUmDi 
bim  umd 
•ad  life. 


^  nay  !  **  lajd  Str  Onj,  *'  bj  heaaen  Queene, 
thai  sight  by  mo  shall  ncner  bo  aoene, 

[forsooth  I  do  thee  tell.] 
aso    ffbr  I  shall  kindle  thy  Kin<^  cares  ^  : 

throagh  the  Might  of  him  ihii  Marry  bare, 

with  stroakes  I  shall  thee  ffoU." 


Gaj 


the  Gyant  langht,  &  load  gan  crye, 
"  why  speakest  thou  masterffollyo  ? 

hearke  what  I  shall  thee  tell : 
thoa  hast  broken  thy  sword  A  thy  sheeld, 
A  thou  hast  noc  weapons  thy  sclfo  to  weld, 
SM        nor  *  here  is  none  to  sell." 

^  no,"  layd  Sir  Guy,  "  I  know  better  cheape ; 
yonder  lyes  a  gpreat  cart-load  on  a  heape, 

that  thou  thy*selfo  hither  did  bring." 
37  S    **  then  th^  wold  laugh  me  to  scome,  my  Lonls  manye, 
if  of  my  wepons  I  shold  let  thee  take  anyo, 

my  selfe  downe  ffbr  to  dinge." 


B0t.M^UM 

GiAnt, 


jroavr  BO 
mtmpooB  to 
flffhtwlth. 


••in  help 
mjmU  frofli 


■  arxio.    instaiitlj.^  P.      Tlirrv    ie   a  *  Stith«\    rig%dtu^    mlidm$,    siftmums, 

tCf*4»  lietvcrti  /«  Aod  MMir.— F.  Ljc-    I*. 

'  M«  lA  Um  MjH.— F.  *  cm,  q.-  P.  *  f  US.  now.-  F. 


540 


GUT  AKD  COLBBRAIIDK. 


Gay  KiMi  A 
Dmniahftxe, 


mti  off  the 

Giant's 

■word-ann. 


and  then,  as 
heitoopa. 


bbhead. 


ThaDanci 


flee. 


and  take 
their  king 
home. 


as  they 
swore  to 
claim 

England  no 
more* 


then  Sir  Guy  to  the  weapons  went : 
S76    a  danish  '  axe  in  his  hand  hee  hent^ 

&  lightlje  about  his  head  he  can  itt  ffling. 

the  Gyant  vpon  the  sholder  he  smote ; 

the  sword  and  arme  ffell  to  hjs  *  ffbote, 
S80       this  was  noe  leasinge. 

then  as  he  wold  hane  stooped,  as  I  Ynde[r]8tuid, 
to  haue  taken  vp  hb  sword  in  his  other  hand 

to  hane  wreaked  him  of  that  wmthe, 
384    Sir  Gnjs  axe  was  sharpe,  A  share, 
the  G  jants  head  he  smote  of  there, 

bremelje  *  in  that  breath. 

&  then  the  Danish  men  gan  say 
388   to  our  Englishmen,  "  well-away  [p«fBSM] 

iJiat  euer  wee  came  in  your  griste  ^  ! " 

they  ran  &  they  rode  oner  hill  A  slade* ; 

much  haste  home-ward  they  made 
392       with  sorrow  A  care  enough. 

they  hyed  them  oner  the  salt  ffbme 
to  bring  the  King  of  denmarke  hame 

with  sorrow  and  mickle  care ; 
396    ffor  they  haue  left  behind  them  slaane 
a  ffuU  fibule  Lodlye  *  swayne, 

both  of  head  and  hayre. 

ffor  their  trothes  they  had  truly  plight^ 
400   that '  as  they  were  true  King  and 

of  England  neuer  to  clayme  more.' 

&  then  to  the  body  they  sett  his  head ; 

his  sword  in  his  hand  was  lead,^ 
404       *  the  strongest  that  euer  man  bo[re]. 


*  See  note  '  to  1.  169,  p.  68,  vol.  i. 
-F. 

>  The  f/  is  dotted  as  in  old  MSS.— F. 
■  breine,/fro*,  atrox.    Lye. — P. 
«  ?  MS.  pisle.— F. 

*  A.-S.  Md,  a  slade ;  plaiD,  open  tract 


of  couutiy.    Bosworth. — F. 

•  filthy.— P. 

»  laid,  q.— P. 

"  #  itanke  as  d^  the  Hi* 'u 
out  at  the  beginning  of  this  line 
MS^F. 


tb 


SITT  AMD  C0LEB8AXDI. 
»OjlBli  Uoad  WW  UMk*  &,  red, 

Mt   tka  lU  I«7d  tha  bMd  to  tha  oorae, 
A  Um  vnam  afftioe  to  tbe  body«  aboe, 
h  bu7«d  tliein  both  in  %  diobe.* 


^  oar  EDgUahmiMi  made.  n*  tacUah 

411    flfUMgrafttcart-loxle  of  wofipoDBtAat  went  made,*   (mrnu 
Umj  kmgbe,  A  p>od  game  they  made.* 
Ilflt  Uba  an  ont  of  Denmarke  was  bronght, 
tha  OTHita  bsad  of  to  vayte,* 
I       tU  thnkfld  ohriat  (kat  ^de. 

A  tb«i  tit*  Kmi4  boffora  tha  palmer  did  k&eele,  Atbiin— 

MJM^  **  tboB  art  blcoi,  I  wott  itl  woele, 
of  fod  Hid  ow  I^]re." 
I   lb*  pallHT,  in  fail  hart  hoe  was  fUIl  aoro  ^t 

mhmi  be  wkw  oar  king  kneele  him  bebre ; 

"  alaad  v|i,  a,j  lord !  "  sajd  hoe, 
"  flbr  well  I  wott  itt  waa  hia  deodo  ri*«tt» 

I  Aot  Sot  ri  Tpon  a  oroMC  did  bltMsde  chiM. 

vpoa  the  mooat  of  Calnarje." 

h  than  onr  king  after  Mot,  MMi^ 
in  the  boDor  of  thia  batlell  great, 
I       ttaa  deed  bee  caoaed  to  be  done : 

(vd  them  to  lake  rp  the  au  A  the  aword,  ^SSi 

A  kaape  tbam  well  in  rojall  ward,  **Xbw 

A  brtBg  than  to  wiaoheator  towne,  **" 

I  A  hn(  than  vp  on  St.  Swylbena  chnreb  on  hja        at  a««ai>-i 
lfca«  an  nan 'UMtenaraea,  wSmU. 


542 


GUT  AND  GOLEBRANDE. 


thither  if  they  wold  ffare.* 
I  tell  yon  the  weapons  be  there  &  thore 
436    bnt  of  this  matter  He  tell  yon  more, 
hastylye  and  soone. 


[The  Third  Part.] 

[How  Sir  Quy  turns  Hermit,  and  sends  for  lus  Wife  as  he  dies.] 


A  prooemion 
of  monks. 


singing 
TV  Deum^ 
meetii 
AthelsUm, 


who  offers 
Ouy  castles 
and  towers. 


Ony  asks 

only  for  his 
staff  and 
pike. 


440 


3f  parte  << 


Then  all  religions  of  the  towne, 

they  mett  the  Km^  with  £Bsdre  procession ; 

&  other  psahnes  amonge,' 
te  denm  was  theire  song, 
&  other  praises  there  amonge, 

that  plansed  '  the  Lords  to  pray. 
th6  profierred  the  palmer  att  that  iyde, 
castles  hye  A  towers  wyde, 
good  horsses  to  assay. 
"  Nay,''  saies  he,  "  gine  me  that  is  mine, 
448    my  scripp  &  my  pike  &  my  slanen,^ 
&  lett  me  wend  my  way." 


444 


The  King 
goes  with 
him  and 
aHkfl  his 
name. 

Guy  tells 


ffor  all  they  profferred  him  there, 

ho  fibrsooke  them :  wold  hane  no  more  ^ 
462        hnt  that  with  him  he  hronght. 

&  then  onr  Yiiiig  with  him  forth  on  his  way  went ; 

to  know  his  name  was  his  entent ; 
"  hnt  all,"  he  sayd,  "  is  ffor  nonght, 
466   without  yon  wilbe  swome  vnto  me, 

ffor  12  monthes  in  conncell  itt  shalbe. 


*  gone. — P. 

*  all  their  Pso/ms  'gan  say,  q. — P. 

*  It  pleased,  q. — P. 

*  Slaveine,  a  pilgrim's  mantle.  Sara- 
harda,  Anglico  a  sclavene.  Halliwell. 
Fr.  Esclavine  as  Esclanune  (a  long  and 
thicke  riding  cloake  to  beare  off  tlie  raino ; 


a  Pilgrims  cloake  or  •mantle ;  a  ekt^ 
for  a  traueller;)  or  a  aea-goiwiie;  Qr> 
course  high-collered,  and  shoit-slecMd 
gowne,  reaching  downe  to  the  nud-ki^ 
and  Ysed  most  bj  seamen  and  Saykxs* 
Cotgrave,  A.D.  1611. — ^F. 
•  mair,  q. — P. 


GUT  ASB  OOUBKASSB*  &%Z 


bj  him  that  all  this  world  bss  wroaghit.^  iua 

A  when  our  Kin^  bad  fworae  him  too, 
4<o    *'whj,mjiiAiiie/*lieHi>jc*,**uGujof  wmrwicke^Ioe! 
A  this  (Tor  tliee  I  haoe  fibaght.^ 


'« 0/*  said  oar  Kjii^,  **  S«V  Gut,  abrde  with 
A  halfe  of  England  I  wiD  gine  tbee, 
444        A  aMonder  wee  will  nencr.** 

**  naj,  I  thanke  joa  my  lord  ctutecas  A  kzad,' 

I  banc  a  pilgramage  great  to  wend, 

flrom  linne  mj  ionle  to  oooer.' 

4M    Sometimes  I  was  one  of  jowr  Eries  wight,'   lyastsc 

bat  now  age  A  traaell  hath  me 

ffiMwell,  mj  Lord,  ffbr  eaer ! 

for  to  warwicke  wend  will  I, 

47S    to  speake  with  fajre  ffcelix  *  mj  wiffe,  before  I  dje,     ^  v 

fur  nothing  I  had  leaner.**  u  «» 


he  had  beene  in  battell  stiiTe  A  strong, 
A  smitten  with  wepons  that  were  long, 
47S        A  bidden  manj  a  drearje  daj : 

when  the  parted,  thej  both  did  weepe. 
Sir  Gaj  held  downe  the  hje  street,* 

in  •  warwicke  where  he  lay.  '^^ 


4S0   A  when  he  came  to  warwicke  towne,  ia  varwiiefc, 

his  ownc  coontessc  to  dinner  was  bowne  O/^^tM  ^ 

A  all  mssHcs  were  sajd. 
ffor  ffearc  lest  anj  man  shold  him  Ken, 

4M   he  iott  him  downe  among  the  poore  godsmen,  •im^wn 

A  held  him  well  pleased.'  p'^t 


•  h^thi.  <j. -P.  •  i.f.  thr  lliffb-way.     Qu.    thr   hiffb 
'  (.T'ttuuiioBd    Inter ;  p<-rkupi    $nrr.       llomAii  IC<ki«1.— P. 

-P  •   tn.  rj        p. 

■  »f..«il.  »rtiTr.  — p.  »  w.ll.»|«iJ,  q.    (wiiUm   fcir  trnM.) 

•  Krlic*.  m  KUi».-F.  -  P.        "^     ^    ^ 


544 


GUT  A5D  OOUBRAHDK. 


The 
Corn 

U 


Ga7 


in 


his  owne  Ladje  enexye  day  ftfct  her  gate 
13  palmers  in  cold  shee  take 
488       to  dine  with  her  att  noooe. 

Sir  Guj  was  leane  of  cheeke  A  cbiOf 
A  thereffore  the  porter  lett  him  in, 
&  12  after  him  did  goe.' 


AOdbifl 

LAdygiTw 


blm  wine: 

bftglretltto 

Us 


495  the  Iiadje  see  hee  iras  ill  att  ease ; 
shee  ffonnded'  flast  him  to  please, 

[and  did  him  make  good  cheere ;'] 
shee  ffett  him  a  pott  of  her  best  wine : 

496  he  dealt^  itt  about  him  at  that  time, 

all  to  his  ffellowes  there. 


HeUkM 

leATeoCblf 

Lftdy. 

She  bldf  her 
■tewanl 


then  after  dinner,  as  saith  the  booke, 
leane  of  his  owne  Ladye  he  tooke 
500       before  them  in  the  halL 

the  Ladye  called  her  steward  vnto ; 
shee  sayd,  "  my  bidding  looke  thou  doe." 
«  Madam/'  hee  sayd, ''  I  shalL" 


toU  him  to 
oome  to 
dinner  every 
day. 


504    ''  why  then,  goe  to  yonder*  pore  palmer, 
&  bidd  him  come  enerye  day  to  dinner 

before  me  in  this  hall ; 
ffor  an  honest  man  ^  he  hath  beene 
508   when  he  was  younge  A  kept  deane, 
as  may  be  well  scene." ^ 


J 


The  itewMd 
gives  Ouy 
the 


the  steward  wold  no  long^  abyde, 
but  went  after  the  palmer  that  tyde, 


*  gone,  q. — P. 

'  j(md,   /oundt    to    try,    endeavonr. 
A.S.  fandian,  tentare.    Uny,  Jun. — ^P. 

*  A  Lino  wanting: 

"And  bade  (or  cQd)  him  make  good 
cheere."  q. — ^P. 


*  him  foUowB,  marked  ouL — F. 

*  yomder  in  the  MS. — ^F. 

*  MS.  me.     A.-S.  mUeg  is  a  nUdos, 
fiiend,  neighbour. — ^F. 

*  as  may  ba  saene  of  all,  q. — 'B. 


OPT   UD  OOUBBASDI. 

Ill       A  dill  w  tfae  lAdjr«  him  bed*  i  ■ 

■tji,  "  well  grf«t«a  70V  mjr  Ijwljre  mild  of  ebMn, 
pnfM  jon  Biuir7  dnjr  to  com*  to  dinnar,* 
gifln  lAat  iU  bo  jrow  wiU." 

ll«   tk*  palmar  mado  umrar  hm*  ntoward  rato ' ; 
1*7,  "  I  pi^  to  ohrift  gnat  b«r  thai  moodo 

Ikat  woUs  both  wolth  ud  witt  t 
a  litk  fluthvr  I  Hmiii  to  S»n, 
UD   to  wptakt  mth  ui  favnaitt  hero, 
giff  I  cui  with  him  hitt." 

**  KB  hormitt  is  do»d,  I  TDikntAnd, 
A  bcra  «  hennttage  ■toiiils  Txcand, 
•M       M  £1]  doa  vitdaratud."* 

A  then  ha  Itoed,  tho  tnith  to  My, 
tin  ftt  w«a  hi<  ending  d»y, 

A  Mmed  dirijil  inir  King; 
•M   Im  asnor  eato  other  moato 
bat  bcrfaoe  and  rootaa  gnato, 

A  dianfce  tho  wutor  of  a  ■prioge. 

than  ha  hyrad  him  a  title  page 

•M    l&tft  waa  but  13  jreerea  of  aga, 

bn  WB«  both  flajn  and  lleato  *  [ 
ft  «iief7  day  wbca  tho  booqb  bell  nu>g, 
the  liUo  ladd  to  the  towns  msat  gang, 

»M       to  Ontch  *  the  I^ljree  Uaerja.' 


■  Unw.  n.-r. 


MM  la  W  tb(  Si*v«r4'*  vwiU. 

UMif  I 


UW*.   A  Miante  of  ■   tUM  IImIs 

.  q^F.       t^am.  or  dMiM  ia  adiow*  wota  hf  kfa 
vuUac-      M«*M«H.   or   othMi.      £«    Uw4t   4m 


546 


GUT   AND   COLEBRAKDE. 


At  lAfft  a 
death-Hick- 
nciW  takes 
Gny  ; 


the  Ladye  was  gladd,  as  I  ynderstand ; 
sheo  gane  itt  with  her  owne  bandes,^ 
and  gladd  itt  soe  shold  bee. 
640   but  there  he  liued,  as  saytli  the  booke, 
till  a  sickncsse  there  him  tooke, 
that  needlje*  he  mnst  dye. 


an  angel 
comos  to 
him 

to  warn  him 
hc8hall 

die- 


one  night  as  Sir  Guy  lay  in  vysion, 
544    there  came  an  Angell  downe  £Eroni  heaaen 
to  lett  him  ynderstand. 

he  was  as  light  as  any  leame,' 

as  bright  as  any  sunn  beames. 
648        w/th  thai  wakened  Sir  Guy.* 


[pagcOWJ] 


St.  Michael, 
from  Uod. 


552 


Ho  sayes,  "  I  coniure  in  the  power  of  lesus  christ* 
to  toU  me  wether  thou  be  an  euill  angell  or  a  good!'* 

he  sayd,  "  I  hett  Michall. 
I  came  ffrom  him  tJuii  can  both  loose  and  bind 
both  mee,  and  thee,  and  all  mankind, 

both  heauen,  earth,  and  hell." 


Sir  any 
Hcndd  his 
puKO 

to  tell  hifl 
wife  to 
come  to  hJm. 


&  then  Sir  Guy  his  ring  out  raught 
556    to  the  litle  ladd,  and  him  taught, 
&  bidd  he  shold  "  goe  snell  ^ 
to  her  that  hath  beene  true  to  mee, 
&  pray  her  to  come,  my  end  and  see ; 
660        ffbr  nothing  thai  shoe  dwell.^  ** 


The  page 
goes  to  the 
Countess, 


the  litle  lad  made  him  bowne 
till  he  came  to  warwicke  towne. 


»  hand.— P. 

'  so  Chaucer,  for  needs  must. — P. 

'  Leunw,  leme,  a  flame,  a  Light,  a  blaze. 
Chauc.  Urry.  Jun. — P.  A.-S.  Icoma. 
— F. 

*  Sir  Guy  wakeude,  q. — P. 


*  JoBQs*    blood,    q.    I    coijnre  thee 

by  y*  Roode.    Qu.— P. 

•  snell,  celer^  pemis,  dtus,  agiUs,  A.-S. 
snel.  Lye. — ^P. 

'  dwelle,  to  stay,  tarry.  Chane.  Id. 
dwdia,  est  cessare,  morari.  Jul  I^ 
—P. 


OUT  AHD  COLBBRAIfDB. 


547 


the  ConnteiM  soone  hee  fibnnd ; 
9€4    before  her  he  kneeled  on  hiB  knee ; 

"  well '  greeteth  you  my  Lori,  Sip  Guy ! 
hut  he  is  dead  neere  hand,* 


tellslMr 

tbatOoyU 

dying. 


^  d:  hoere  he  haih  sent  to  you  hb  ringe,— 
S46    ffull  well  you  know  thia  tokeninge, — 
A  bidda  you  hye  him  till." 
a  iquier  wold  haue  brought  her  a  palffrey, 
but  thee  tooke  a  neeror  stay ; 


ftadbi^lMr 
oooM  tohini. 


S7S    ffbr  knight  ne  iquier  none  wold  sheo  haue, 
but  ffbllow  Bhee  did  the  litle  knaue  *  ; 

the  way  wan  ffayro  and  drye ; 
ffollow  aheo  did  the  litle  ffoot  page 
S7f   till  sheo  came  to  the  hermitage 
wheraa  her  lord  did  lye ; 


Rhtfolkm* 
the 
totb* 
hvmlUiff*, 


A  then  the  lady  curteoua  &  snell, 
Tpon  hia  bed-side  downe  shee  ffell 
sso        with  many  a  grecuous  gronc. 
hee  looked  vpon  her  with  eyes  2/ 
he  neuer  spake  more  words  but  these, 
saying,  «•  Madam,  Ictt  bo  thy  flare*!  *' 


and  fan* 
down  by 
Oay. 


IfrtdlslMr 
tobtflUL 


SM    a  man  thai  had  scene  the  sorrow  shoe  had, 
A  alsoe  the  contrition  thai  sheo  made 

flbr  her  Lord,  Sir  Guy, 
they  wold  haae  shed  many  salt  tcarca  * : 
Sis    soe  did  all  thai  with  them  were, 
both  lords  eke  and  Ladyes. 


Toa'd  hnvt 
crinSloMi 


'  yivr/A  foUowB,  iDArkrd  out,  in   the 

•  b.in.1.  .4.     P. 

•  m^/ii,  |i«rr.— F. 


*  With  hill  rjra,  q.— P. 

*  molir.      P. 

*  mnnj  a  tcarr,  q.— P. 


548 


GUT  AND  COLKBRANDB. 


BhaMkjB 
■he  and  Onj 
were 
tofether 
only  40 


then  shoe  told  them  how  they  had  loned  long, 
d^  were  manyed  together  when  they  were  yonnge, 
692        A  lined  together  bnt  dayes  40  : 
A  afterward  ahee  nener  him  see, 
by  no  knowledge  thai  cold  bee, 
of  30  winters  and  three. 


their  child 
WMttolen, 


ftodBir 
Amrde 
went  to 
it. 


596   then  shee  told  them  of  mnch  more  woe  : 
theire  yonnge  child  was  stolen  them  froe  ; 

they  had  nener  none  bat  one. 
Sir  Arrarde  of  Arden  after  him  went 
600   to  seeke  the  child  with  good  intent^ 
thai  was  true  of  borne  blood.^ 


The 

OoanteH 
goeeto  King 
▲theUtan, 


who  tells  her 
how  Quy 
■lew  the 
giant. 


A  as  shee  can  *  these  tales  tell, 
in  swooning  downe  shee  £fell 
604       ypon  the  ground  soe  greene ; 
A  when  shee  was  renarted  againe, 

shee  wold  nener  rest  nor  rowe  • 
till  shee  came  onr  king  Ynto, 
608       her  to  wishe  and  read. 

before  onr  king  when  shee  was  brought, 
the  king  told  her  how  Sir  Gfuy  had  fought 
&  smitten  of  the  Gyants  head : 

612    *^  ffast  his  name  I  did  ffii-eane,^ 

but  he  sware  me  thai  I  must  leane  ^ 
ffor  a  12  month  and  a  day." 


Atheistan  ^he  king  said,  **  soe  christ  me  sane  ! 

bai7  ony  in       616   this  Erie  to  Winchester  I  will  haue ; 

Winchester. 


•  of  txue  blood  borne,  O;--!*. 

•  i.  e.  gan. — P.    did.— F. 

■  A.-S.  rauff  sweet,  quiet»  repose. — ^F. 


«  ask.->P. 
*  oonoeftl. — ^P. 


OCT  AJTD  OOLEBIAHDI.  549 


ft 


hk  bodj  ihen  I  win  interre.* 
bat  an  tkai  alxmt  bim  thov  cold  stand,  imkb 

thflj  cold  not  remoiia  him  wfth  tliflir  handi  wii>>« 

nor  Anther  thoioe  him  beare. 


a  new  pnrpoae  there  thA  tooke ; 

thflj  made  a  grane,  as  aaith  the  booke^ 

before  the  h  je  Altar, 
ta4   A  bniyed  him  in  warwicke,  the  tnith  to  mj. 

the  kdje  lined  after  him  bat  dajes  40:  vSI^  wko 

And  there  was  baryed  alaoe.^  iptm^&n 


A  then  thejr  ffoanded  a  Bkjre  abbej, 
A  mankrm  fTor  them  to  singe. 


thas  came  the  kiu^At  oat  of  his  cares,* 
tkai  had  beene  in  land  wyde  where, 
that  came  to  England  safe  againe. 

now  an  joa  iiUit  haae  heard  this  liUe  lest,'         Km  jo«. 


I  betake  joicr  sooles  to  lesos  christ|  hmtSni 


^  [to  save  finom  endless  pain,]  u^hmfJF 

A  that  wee  maj  on  doomesda j 
oome  to  the  blisse  iiUit  shaU  fTor  aje, 

with  Angells  to  remaine.  ffins. 


,  Cbftae.  kUm.— P.  '  Pimrly  0«tt~P. 

P.  *  a  LuM  waatii^— P. 


.:?2 


J0E5  Di  uzrs. 


:  r  r^cz-il-ras  M'lrTier?.  c»:i.v:TiiI,  ani  irdulging  his  disi 
ii-:   ::    rrv:   •::   li?   cr:i?>rrl:T  wLen   Le   can  do  so 

•  B  *  • 

:!..:': r2:*r.  rrr--;i:.>e-L     A:: >ir^:irr,  Le  15  verv  mnch  wbafc 

*  «  .  a 

iTfrve  Ei^-l:?iz:A:i  ::  :.:-iiT  i?— a  rx-d-Learted  PI 
F::  .--r  :i:-^  zi^r-  •::«  :V:c:rr— iii  fear  r-f  the  King  anl 
?  r"irvrT:r.  TLii  ^.isrrtiii?  Lim  to  cc-nceal  his  nc 
«iz::£i:r  i<"«-rrT,  :o  sLrlnk  zrczn  intercz'Urse  with  mi 


Pli?  pirrure  :f  &  Tilla:::'*  life  maj  serin  sniprisinglj 

i:.i  rir^rfuL     N :  i:u::  ::  w.:!.'.!  c-e  umrise  to  conclude tfaiil 

:ie  ne=:':-rr?  •::   Lii  cli»  werr  as  «!eek  and  affluent  as 

J.hz  ir  K<reTr.    C^ii  :ir  •■•her  L-%Ld.  ::  is  unwise  to  con 

:r  n  :le  la-ar?  :Li:  reri:litei  it.  tha:  the  position  of  that 

Wis.    i:   lea^   in   the   latter   tenia!   davs,   for   the  most 

z^^Cj^W  ani  ^Tetohei.     The  wall  of  partition  that 

the   Tiliaii.   tr::::   the    freezian   was    often   very  slight 

arlitrarr  serrice:?,  the  exacti:::  of  which  characterized 

ditin,  as^-isiei  in  cciir«e  of  time  a  definite  shape,  so  that 

rer-ure  wa?  as  little  grallii:^  as  those  of  his  neighbonis. 

o:::!  i  pr- solute  Lis  cwn  interest*  as  undisturbedly  as  th^. 

f  v:.il  *:.%:•='  wj-uld  t-e  nrminally  inferior  to  theirs;  but  his 

tuz::::e#  of  growing  rich  would  W  as  good,  with  few  dial 

Pr.bKiMy  there  would  be  often  little  to  choose  between  the 

ve.can  and  the  villain.*     Villains  t*.x^  had  fouffht  in  the 

ranks  on  the  famous  Ivittle-fiolds  of  the  fourteenth  and  fiftaeaft^ 

i-eL:uries.      That  fearful  pestilence  that    ravaged   the  land  il. 

1349  raav  be  said  to  have  dealt  viilenage  a  blow  from  iriiiAij 

never  recovered.     Free  labourers,  a^  Eden  {in  his  State  cfU 

p.^rA  remarks,  are  first  specifically  recognised  by  the  l^iabtOl 

in  ISoO.     The  First  Act  of  Richard  the  Second  («q>.  6)  hi- 

reference  to  complaints  urged  by  the  Lords  and  CommoM,  4*^ 

'  Ci.  V.  Z07  of  rhe  I  allad. 


;on5   01  BXKDK. 


561 


!  poum  then  wu  wrinen  after  the  death  of  Edwanl  IIL, 
t  H,  after  1377  and  bcforu  the  acceBHioD  of  Edward  IV^ 
t  ic,  lieTon  14GI.  Its  general  character  show  that  it  «u 
itlcn  at  a  period  when  the  position  and  prtwpecta  ■ 
bin  wn«  brighteaing.  It  was  evidently  written  in  tli«  d 
90  of  feadallini,  when  the  darkest  n^-x  of  villenn^  « 
■tog  awBT.  The  bare  notion  of  making  a  villain  a  knight 
lid  acarccl;  hare  occurred  to  any  man's  mind  liefore  the 
••nth  oentiu; ;  nor  yet  the  bare  notion  of  a  villain's  dcligbt- 
[  ia  bk  ptMitioD.  The  lower  claaees  bad  already  felt  their 
B  their  strength  felt,  when  John  de  lieeve  waji 
1  with  ao  much  reopect  and  pride.  The  great  rising  of 
1  II. '•  reign,  howefer  abortive,  however  completely  foiled 
nigbt  have  Bcemed  at  the  time,  had  produced  a  laaliug  effect. 
the  coime  of  events,  kingn  were  prenently  Ui  awtimv  in 
rant  tbat  poaition  of  IcAdirmliip  which  Richard  had  takeu 
ngly  ia  Smtthliald  in  1381.  Ttiis  U  a  po<?in  of  mirtli  and  of 
■,  not  a  wilil  angry  ntire,  not  a  deep  bitter  moan.  That 
ghty  eioilus  which  (he  fifteenth  century  witnessed  is  Ijeing 
The  bouae  of  bondage  ui  being  left.  The  laud  of 
f  into  Bght. 

Ab  knight  hid  bad  poems  sung  and  written  in  bin  honimrfor 
OBJ  •  Ifiog  jmr.  A  whole  literature  had  u-b^bnited  bim ;  he 
e  itrnt  and  glory  of  tlte  ohl  romance*.  The  yeoman,  too, 
kit  praiMs  lung.  Ha  aovicea  at  Cre^  aad  Poictien 
I  him  u  inportanoe  and  a  celebrity  that  eonld  not  be 
.  He  had  beeome  a  name.  And  now,  at  laat,  the  TtUotn 
1  himaelf  •»  &r  out  of  the  depths  of  his  abaaeneat,  that 
m  ftmnd  worthy  of  poi-tic  eelebnUioo. 
^  de  BeevB,  one  of  the  King'*  boDdnten,  fa  repnaented 
tely  woll-to^o  and  comfortable  in  hU  circum- 
f  independent  rpirit,  with  a  nipremc  contempt 


552  JOHN   DB  BBEUB. 

for  penniless  courtiers^  convivial,  and  indulging  his  dispoatkm 
in  that  respect.  He  is  indeed  a  somewhat  coarse-grained  Moir, 
apt  to  brag  of  his  prosperity  when  he  can  do  so  secorelj, 
illiterate,  prejudiced.  Altogether,  he  is  very  much  what  the 
average  Englishman  of  to-day  is — a  good-hearted  Philistine. 
But  one  thing  mars  his  felicity — his  fear  of  the  King  and  the 
King's  purveyor.  This  constrains  him  to  conceal  his  riches, 
to  simulate  poyerty,  to  shrink  from  intercourse  with  way&ren 
and  strangers. 

This  picture  of  a  villain's  life  may  seem  surprisingly  bright 
and  cheerful.  No  doubt  it  would  be  unwise  to  conclude  that  all 
the  members  of  his  class  were  as  sleek  and  affluent  as  this 
John  de  Reeve.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  unwise  to  conclude 
from  the  laws  that  regulated  it,  that  the  position  of  that  class 
was,  at  least  in  the  latter  feudal  days,  for  the  most  part 
beggarly  and  wretched.  The  wall  of  partition  that  separated 
the  villain  from  the  freeman  was  often  very  slight.  The 
arbitrary  services,  the  exaction  of  which  characterized  his  con- 
dition, assumed  in  course  of  time  a  definite  shape,  so  that  his 
tenure  was  as  little  galling  as  those  of  his  neighbours.  He 
could  prosecute  his  own  interests  as  undisturbedly  as  they.  His 
social  state  would  be  nominally  inferior  to  theirs ;  but  his  oppor- 
tunities of  growing  rich  would  be  as  good,  with  few  drawhacksL 
Probably  there  would  be  often  little  to  choose  between  the  small 
yeoman  and  the  villain.*  Villains  too  had  fought  in  the  English 
ranks  on  the  famous  battle-fields  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth 
centuries.  That  fearful  pestilence  that  ravaged  the  land  in 
1349  may  be  said  to  have  dealt  villenage  a  blow  from  which  it 
never  recovered.  Free  labourers,  as  Eden  (in  his  State  of  tk$ 
Poor)  remarks,  are  first  specifically  recognised  by  the  legislature 
in  1350.  The  First  Act  of  Kichard  the  Second  (cap.  6)  has 
reference  to  complaints  urged  by  the  Lords  and  Commons,  that 

»  Cf.  V.  307  of  the  baUad. 


JOHN   DE   RBBDS.  553 

Tillmins  and  land-t«nantA  withdraw  their  senriceit  **  under  pretext 
of  exemplifications  from  tiie  Book  of  Domeflday,  and  by  their 
evil  interpretation  of  the  same  they  aflSrm  themselves  to  be  quit 
and  utterly  discharged  of  ail  manner  of  servage,  due  as  well 
of  their  body  as  of  their  said  tenures,  and  will  not  suffer  any 
distress  or  other  justice  to  be  made  upon  them,  but  do  menace 
Uie  ministers  of  their  lords,  and  gather  themselves  together  in 
great  routs,  and  agree  by  such  confederacy  that  every  one  shall 
aid  other  to  resist  their  lords  with  strong  handf  to  the  great 
<^iDage  of  these  said  lords,  and  evil  example  to  other  to  begin 
•ucb  riots.^  These  combinations  did  much  to  advance  the 
poaition  of  the  working  clafises,  as  unions,  with  whatever  ad- 
mixture of  evil,  have  done  since.  How  tremendous  was  their 
power  some  four  years  after  those  complaints  were  submitted  to 
the  royal  ear  and  measures  taken  to  satisfy  them,  is  illustrated 
by  the  eagerness  of  the  King  to  grant  the  four  points  of  the 
eharter  the  assembled  mob  then  demanded  of  him.  The  roar 
of  that  mob  was  remembered  for  many  a  day.  (See  Chaucer's 
Kanne  Prtst  his  TaU.)  Nor  were  there  wanting  at  the  same 
time  those  who  advonited  the  claims  of  those  insurgents  on  the 
most  general  grounds,  who  dealt  with  the  question  radically. 
Ideas  fatal  to  the  notion  of  thraldom  were  now  growing  into 
predominance  in  France,  in  Flanders,  in  England  and  elsewhere. 
The  Church,  however  lax  its  practice,  had  again  and  again  raised 
its  voice  against  it.  There  is  nowiuTe  a  nobler  rebuke  of  it 
Ihao  tliat  given  by  Chaucer^s  Pa/'#to/i— ^'Thilke  that  thay  clepe 
thralle*,**  he  says,  in  that  divJMtin  of  his  disccmrse  that  treats  of 
Avarice  (•*  an  adaptation  of  notne  chiiptfrM  **  of  Frere  I^trens* 
Stnnme  ties  Vicen  W  iU«  Vert  us:  wv  Mr.  Morris's  A;^nhite  #»/ 
lutryi^  Pref.  p.  ii.),  *' lien  Gcnldi's  jM^oplf ;  for  humble  folk  In^n 
Cri^tiii  frendes;  thay  l>rn  contulN'riiially  with  the  I^ird.  Thenk 
rt'k  an  of  such  He«*<l  as  cherli*s  t«prihv;«*n,  of  hU4*h  ^t*ed  Hpringo 
U>r«is ;  as  wel  mav  the  cherl  Im*  savni  iik  the  lord.     The  same 

%«»U  M.  O  O 


.'t.'A  JOHN    DE   BEEUE. 

deth  that  takith  the  cherl,  such  death  takith  the  lord.  Wherfor 
I  rede  do  right  so  with  thi  cherl  as  thou  woldist  thi  lord  dide 
with  the,  if  thou  were  in  his  plyt  Every  sinful  man  is  a  cherl 
as  to  syune.  I  rede  the  certes,  thou  lord,  that  thou  werke  in 
Riic}i  a  wise  with  thy  cherles  that  they  rather  love  the  than  drede 
thi'/'  Such  words  as  these  said  more  perhaps  than  their  utterer 
intended.  Certainly,  they  enable  us  to  understand  how  the 
position  of  the  villain  grew  to  be  much  more  tolerable  than  its 
expressed  conditions  would  have  led  us  to  expect. 

M()rer)ver,  tlie  villain^s  hardships  must  have  been  greatly 
alleviated  liy  that  resolute  independence  which  forms  so  promi- 
nent a  feature  in  the  native  English  character.  The  Englishman 
would  prove  but  a  stiff-necked,  obstinate,  troublesome  slave — his 
self-willedncss  would  go  far  to  protect  him  from  the  worst 
excesses  of  the  hardest  master — his  surliness  would  often  serre 
him  for  a  shield. 

This  ballad  gives  us  a  view  of  both  the  private  and  public  life 
of  the  churl.  We  see  him  as  he  goes  abroad,  and  we  see  him  in 
the  security  of  his  domestic  comfort.  He  makes  no  secret  of  the 
cause  of  those  fears  wiiieh  make  him  so  chary  of  his  hospitality, 
which  induce  him  to  cut  such  a  sorry  figure  when  out  of  doors. 
See  V.  103  et  aeq.,  v.  199  et  aeq,  &c.  His  personal  appearance 
is  (lescril)^d  with  great  care  in  vv.  52-57,  and  again  in  w-  593- 
()5().  He  offers  his  guests  the  poorest  food  and  liquor  at  first. 
(Compare  the  account  of  the  poor  widow's  ^' sclender  meel"  in 
tl»e  Nifune  Prest  his  Talc)  No  doubt  his  fears  were  well  grounded. 
*'  Thurt(h  his  cursed  synne  of  avarice,"  says  the  Parson  whom  we 
have  already  quoted,  "comen  these  harde  lordschipes,  thurgh 
whiche  men  ben  destreyned  by  talliages,  custumes,  and  cariages 
more  than  here  duete  of  resoun  is ;  and  elles  take  thay  of  here 
bondenieii  amercimentes,  whiche  mighte  more  resonably  ben 
callid  extorciouus  than  mercymeutis.  Of  whiche  mersyments 
and  raunsonyiig  of  bondemen,  some  lordes  stywardes  seyn  that  it 


JOHK    DE   BUDS.  555 

is  rightful,  for  as  rooche  as  a  cherl  bath  no  tempore!  thing  that 
a  Djs  his  lordesy  as  thay  sayn.  But  certes  thise  lordeshipes  doon 
wrong  that  bireven  here  bondemen  thinges  that  thay  never  gave 
liem.**  When  the  abolition  of  slavery  was  proposed  in  the  first 
Ptoliament  that  met  after  Wat  Tyler*s  insurrection,  *'  with  one 
•eeord/  writes  Knight  (in  his  Popular  History  of  England)^ 
^  the  interested  lords  of  the  soil  replied  that  they  never  would 
consent  to  be  deprived  of  the  services  of  their  bondmen.  But 
they  complained  of  grievances  less  inherent  in  the  structiu-e  of 
aoeiety— of  purveyance ;  of  the  rapacity  of  law  oflScers ;  of  main- 
teinefs  of  suits,  who  violated  right  and  law  as  if  they  were  kings 
fai  the  country ;  of  excessive  and  useless  taxation/*  **•  I  have  no 
doubly**  says  Eden,  ^that  the  tax-gatherers  were  extremely  par- 
tial to  the  rich  and  oppressive  to  the  poor ;  for  notwithstanding 
tlie  above  instance  of  their  scrupulous  attention  to  levy  the 
vtmost  iarthing  on  petty  tradesmen  [certain  instances  he  has 
pooled  from  the  valuation  of  movable  property  made  at  Colches- 
lar  in  1296,  see  RoL  ParL  i.  228],  we  find  that  the  master  and 
IvBtkien  of  an  hospital,  besides  their  cattle  and   com,  only 

tnted  for  one  household  utensil,  a  brass  pot,  and  an  Abbot 

a  Prior  paid  only  for  their  com  and  their  live  stock.    The 

of  St.  Peter*s  seems  to  have  been  equally  fortunate.** 

Bat,  on  whatever  account  John  de  Reeve  may  make  whatever 

of  direful  penury,  he  is  in  fact  a  man  of  wealth.     He 

mj  with  Horace^s  miser,  ^'At   mihi  plaudo   ipse   domi.'* 
Hmmj9: 

**  I  go  girt  in  %  niMrt  gown, 

Mjr  boud  in  of  bomenuMle  bn>wDe, 

I  wtar  neither  bamiH  nor  gn^a. 
Ami  jreC  I  trow  I  hari*  in  0tor» 
A  tboqaand  povndt  mod  aome  (lr«l  more. 

For  all  J9  Ar»  prumlrr  and  fine. 

Therefore  I  mj,  m  nH>te  I  thee. 
A  bondman  it  te  go(Hl  to  be. 
And  oone  of  earle*  kin . 


556 


JOHN   DB   BESUE. 


For  and  I  be  in  tavern  set, 
To  drink  as  good  wine  I  will  not  let 
As  London  Edward  or  his  Qoeen." 

The  Earl  said:  "  By  godes  might, 
John,  thon  art  a  comely  knight 

And  sturdy  in  eyeiy  fray." 
**  A  knight r'  quoth  John,  "do  away  for  shame ! 
I  am  the  King's  bondman : 

Such  waste  words  do  away. 

**  I  know  you  not  in  your  estate ; 
I  am  misnurtured,  well  I  wot ; 

I  will  not  thereto  say  nay. 
But  if  any  such  do  me  wrong 
I  will  fight  with  him  hand  to  hand 

When  I  am  clad  in  mine  array." 

We  must  now  commend  this  most  interesting  ballad  to 
readers.' 


*  The  Editors  have  reoeiyed  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  Archdeacon  Hale, 
whom  they  here  beg  to  thank : 

Charterhouse,  Dec.  18, 1867. 

Dear  Sir,— I  am  obliged  to  you  for 
the  opportunity  of  reading  the  interesting 
ballad  of  "John  de  Reeve,"  That  he 
designates  himself  as  the  King's  bond- 
man, seems  to  me  to  imply  that  he  was 
of  villain  rank.  I  think  it  probable 
that  the  king's  bondmen,  nativi  and 
villains,  were  proud  of  their  position,  as 
being  attached  to  royalty,  and  as  having 
the  privilege  of  tenants  in  ancient  de- 
mesne, of  not  being  impleaded  or  dis- 
trained except  in  the  king's  courts.  It 
would  seem  from  the  Act  of  Richard  the 
Second,  of  which  mention  is  made  in  the 
prefiice,  p.  662,  that  they  made  use  of 
this  privilege  to  withdraw  their  services 
from  the  lords  of  manors  in  which  they 
were  tenants,  and  that  they  were  in 
reality  leaders  of  that  resistance  to  fbe 
rights  of  the  lords  which  produced  the 
disturbances  of  Tyler  and  Cade.  Except 
taiUage  ad  vtjluntatem  dominiy  none  of 
the  services  due  from  the  various  classes 
of  villains  appear  to  me  cruel  or  ui^ust, 


pnedial  service  being  the  rent  p 
the  possession  of  land  by  the  villaii 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  aa 
increased  in  the  fourteenth  and  fi^ 
centuries,  the  tradesmen  becam 
sessors  of  villain  land,  and  that  a 
lands  were  accumulated  in  fewer 
the  prsedial  service  became  more  c 
to  be  rendered,  as  well  as  more 
able  to  the  personal  position 
tenant,  who  might  himself  be 
holder,  lihtr  tenens^  and  yet 
villain  land.  John  de  Keeve'had 
rich ;  his  name  implies  that  1 
come  from  a  fieimily  who  held  offit 
sibly  in  a  royal  manor;  the  h< 
which  he  lived  having  a  hall  and 
indicates  the  superior  character 
tenement.  I  may  also  remark  t 
abode  was  in  the  south-west  c 
and  that,  to  the  best  of  my  recol 
rojiil  manors,  and  consequently 
in  ancient  demesnes,  abound  in 
and  Somerset.  The  description 
house  would  lead  to  the  idea  f 
dwelt  in  the  hall  of  the  demesi 
was  of  the  same  freeledge  (p.  i 
his  two  neighbours ;  but  it  waj 
wards   (p.  693),  that  they  wen 


JOHM   DS   RKEOB. 


557 


[The  First  Part] 


[How  John  at  ftnt  aroids  the  King,  and  then  takes  him  home.] 


Vf OD :  throngh  thy  might  and  ihj  mercj, 
all  that  loaeth  gamo  and  glee, 

their  aonles  to  hcauen  bringe  I 
beat  u  miKh  of  all  aolace  ; 
therfora  I  hope  itt  betokens  grace, 

of  mirth  who  hath  liking^. 


OodbtaiAU 

WtlOlOTV 

It! 


It 


aa  I  hoard  tell  this  other  jeere, 
a  clarko  came  out  of  Lancashire  : 

a  rolle '  he  had  reading, 
a  boardo  *  written  therein  he  ffoand,* 
ikat  aome  time  flbll  in  England/ 

in  Edwards  dajes  our  King. 


■hlrickrk 


thia 


oC  Mvud 


hj  East,  west,  noKh,  and  Sonthe, 
all  this  realmo  well  mn  *  hee  cowthe,* 
castle,  tower,  and  towne. 


MB.     I  shall  be  Trry  glad  if  what  I 
'  vritt«tt  •hoald  tetm  to  throw  light 
I  th«  eoaditiott  of  John  de  Kemrt, 
And  I  rrmain, 

Yo«n  ▼err  fkithfullj, 
W.  IT.  IlALa. 

T.  Tonlaiin  Boith,  in  a  c»ininunica- 
m*tl#  to  the  Eilitura,  it  of  frtiioion 
ihr  R«vT«> "  wae  the  King'e  cnllrcCor 
tfnl  dttM—in  other  wonle  th«»  Farmrr 
be  tAsr«.  H«  wae  in  Innd  to  the 
(  r*e  *U  rutWtorv  etiU  ar«)  ti*  rtmit 
r,  and  hrni'e.  and  not  mm  a  raeeal. 
kiodsmaa.  The  collector  would  onljr 
fraad  of  the  King  beeaaee  he  did  not 


want  it  known  what  a  capital  bamin 
he  had  made,  Iret  the  price  paid  bj  him 
for  hie  ulRce  ehoold  be  raieetl."  But 
tberv  it  nothing  whateT4*r  in  the  ballatl 
to  juetify  this  intrr|>rTtatioQ  of  the 
Ki^re't  frar.  Ntir  are  we  |irppared  to 
ac4uii*«cr  in  the  confueion  of  the  trrme 
'*  bondman  "  and  "  bumUmaa.*— II. 

rolle.     P.     Qu.  MS.  mlde.     F. 

if*.  Jest.     Junioe.     I*. 

foodr.     P. 

Kllgliinuli*.  qil.  —  P. 

i.r.  run  over. — P. 

c«>Qih^,  could.  Kv  '  he  ae  (uuth,* 
He  Amid  not.     Oloea.  ad  U.  Um^.-P. 


558 


J0H5    DE   XEECK. 


16     of  that  name  were  Kings  3 ; 

but  Edward  wtth  the  long  sbankes  was  bee, 
a  Lord  of  great  renowne. 


On*  Aaj.  oat 
bawkinff,Ukt 
King 
aUhJft 


as  the  K.ing  rode  a  hunting  ypon  a  daj, 

SO     8  ffawcons '  fflew  awaj ; 

he  ffollowed  wonderous  ffast. 
ih6  rode  vpon  their  horsses  that  tyde, 
they  rode  forth  on  enery  side, 

84         the  country  thej  ont  cast ; 


toOo 


t8 


flfrom  morning  vntill  eneninge  late, 
many  menn  abroad  the j  gate 

wandring  all  alone ; 
the  night  came  att  the  last ; 
there  was  no  man  tJuii  wist 

what  way  the  King  was  gone. 


cz(»pta 
Bliibop  And 
an  Bart. 


The  three 
loee  their 
way. 


sane  a  Bishopp  &  an  Erie  £free 
82     that  was  allwayes  the  king  ffaH  nye, 
&  thns  then  gan  they  say : 

"  itt  is  a  ffoUy,  by  St.  lohn, 

ffor  YS  thus  to  ryde  alone 
36         8oe  many  a  wilsome  *  way ; 


and  the 
weather  is 
Tcry  bad. 


40 


"  a  King  and  an  Erie  to  ryde  in  hast, 
a  bishopp  firom  his  coste  '  to  be  cast, 

ffor  hunting  sikerlye.* 
the  whether  happned  ^  wonderous  ill, 
all  night  wee  may  ryde  vnskill,* 

nott  wotting  where  wee  bee." 


»  3  [of  hLs]  fawc'.      Qu.— P. 

*  wi/some,  tai/sum.  Desert,  solitary, 
wandering,  i.e.  Wild:  ^Scotch)  Gloss,  to 
Harosay's  'Evergreen,  q. a. wii<Uome.  Gloss, 
to  G.D.— P. 


■  pronnce,  district. — F. 

*  surely,  certainly:    sicker,  sur, 
tain.     Johns?  — ^P. 

*  hsppneth,  query. — ^P. 

*  i.e.  unskiU'd.— P. 


JOHN    DE   REEDE. 


559 


then  the  Ktw^  began  to  fiaj, 
44     **  good  Sir  Biflhopp,  I  jon  praj 
■ome  comfort,  if  yon  maj.*' 
as  thej  stoode  talking '  all  about, 
thej  were  ware  of  a  carle  *  stout : 
4a        "  good  deene,  fiellow !  "  can  *  they  say. 


Th«7  Mt 
•  nun 


St 


then  the  Erie  was  well  apajd  ^ : 

'*  joa  be  welcome,  good  flellow  !  *'  hee  sayd, 

"  of  flellowshipp  wee  pray  thee !  *' 
the  carle  ffall  hye  on  horsse  sate,* 
his  leggs  were  short  and  broad,* 

his  stinropps  were  of  tree  ^ ; 


onhonttMwk 


M 


a  payrc  of  shooes  were  *  stiffe  &  store,* 
on  his  heele  a  mstye  spurre, 

thus  fforwards  rydeth  hee. 
the  Bishopp  rode  after  on  his  palfrey: 
**  abyde,  good  ffellow,  I  thee  pray, 

and  take  vs  home  with  thee !  " 


rfcMnff  ftwaj 
from  ttann* 


TbeBUhop 
Mkahlm  to 


44 


The  carle  answered  him  thai  tyde,  [p«g«  sm] 

**  ffrom  me  thou  get{  oft  noc  other  guide, 

I  swcare  by  swecte  St.  lohn  '•  !  " 
then  said  the  Erie  ware  and  wise, 
**  thou  canst  litle  of  gc*ntriMe  ''  ! 

say  not  soe  ffor  shame  !  '* 


bat  th«  m«n 
won't. 


^'  rii  werr  •tAlkini^.—  P. 
.*arl#   trmri.)     Vir  t«Duion>  mtqxk* 
inr  Kiffti*.  ui*fn  ac  rkuri  Stc.    Jun. 
Th«  •YiAi'tf  of  thi*  iniliiil  c  in  th«* 

^«<ifina  to  rhumip*  h^n»  frvtjii^ntlr. 

ciAitr  likp  no  /  ittAtmil  of  •  for^iini* 

•rr«iDttk|.     It  mibEtit  br  printr*!  <\ 

Kat  th«-  oUl  form  of  thi*  C  it  r«tninr«l, 

/  «r.'^.«»V.  I  Til  —  K. 
■«n.  '!»''.rul.  —  P.     c.in  ij  iliJ. — F. 
r!«i   (^f:0      Jqq — P. 
rhc  rhyiu0  requirM  fvJe. — Dji*«. 


•  [40fn<*  dral]  hr^f  or  bratJ — Lan- 
CAMMhtrf  I)i«ln*t.  -   V 

'  I  e.  wooil. --  P.  trrme,  wiii>lro, 
p.  181.  I.  I.  -F. 

•  F'Tte  Thr  »ho«t  he  war**  wrrr  &r. 

-r. 

•  gtour,  tturt,  gnat,  tliiok,  in^i-ui 
rnumiin.  Jun .  •titT,  stnin;.  niltiut.  UUn«. 
n.l<rl).     1*. 

'•  Jnnir  •«•  <t   'n*\\.  132]     V 
*'  (ifnler-t,-t  i«  •till  m  ti^f  in  S>jCl«n<l, 
fi»r    K«*ntrittr,    butMiamMc*    hirih       Hm 


560 


JOHH    DB  BEEUE. 


Bothlngto 

4owlth 

toaxtmj. 


the  carle  answered  the  Erie  ynto, 
68     "  With  gentlenesse  ^  I  hane  nothing  to  doe, 
I  tell  thee  by  my  ffay." 

the  weather  was  cold  &  euen  ronghe  * ; 

the  King  and  the  Eirle  sate  and  longhe, 
72         the  Bishopp  did  him  soe  pray. 


TbeKioff 
•ndBarl 


h»gtb»mma 
to  stop, 


76 


the  King  said,  "  soe  mote  I  thee  '  ! 
hee  is  a  carle,  whosoeuer  hee  be ! 

I  reade  *  wee  ryde  him  neere." 
th6  sayd  *  with  words  hend,^ 
"  ryd  saftlye,  gentle  flGreind, 

A  bring  ys  to  some  harbor.*' 


tnzt  1m  itill 
HdMon. 


TliaEing 
telkthan 


then  to  tarry  the  carle  was  lothe, 
80    but  rode  forth  as  he  was  wrothe, 
I  tell  yon  sickerlye. 
the  king  sayd,  "  by  mary  bright, 
I  troe  '  wee  shall  ryde  all  this  night 
84         in  wast  ynskiUfiiillye  ^ ; 


to  poll  the 
man  down. 


The  Bishop 
asks  him  to 
■top. 


88 


"  I  ffeare  wee  shall  qpme  to  no  towne ; 
ryde  to  the  carle  and  pull  him  downe 

hastilye  without  delay." 
the  Bishopp  said  soone  on  hye, 
"  abyde,  good  ffellow,  &  take  vs  with  thee  ! 

ffor  my  loue,  I  thee  pray." 


*  gftntrise,  qn. — P. 

*  eveniwg  rough. — P.  pronounced  roto. 

\>e  Amyral  bende  ys  browes  rowe, 

&  clepcde  is  consaile. 
Kyng  Sortybrant  &  o]>re  ynowe 

ther  come  wy|>-onte  fayle. 

Sir  Ferumbras,  MS.  Ashmole  33,  fol.  26. 

Thow  a  Sarsens  bed  ve  bere, 
Row^  and  full  of  lowsy  here. 

Skelton,  Poem$  against  Gamesche,  1. 124. 


Works,  ed.  Dyce,  toI.  i.  p.  123. — F. 

*  thee^  i.e.  thrive.     Lye. — P. 

*  i.e.  counsel:  reade  is  counsel,  con- 
silium.    Junius. — P. 

*  sayd  [to  him]. — P. 

*  i.e.  kind,  hend,  hende,  i.  e.  feat,  fine, 

§entle,  forU,  q.d.  handy  or  handsome, 
kinner,  ab  Ii*l.  henta,  L  e.  decere.    Lye. 
MS.— P. 

*  trow,  confido,  opinor.     Lye. — P. 

"  without  reason.     O.  N.  ikUy  reason. 
-F. 


JOHH   DB   RKIITB. 


561 


100 


the  Erie  said,  '*  hj  god  in  heanen  ! 
oil  men  meete  att  vnaett  steaen  ^ ; 

to  quite  thee  well  wee  may.*' 
the  carle  Mjd,  *'  bj  St.  lohn 
I  am  *  afiraye  of  yon  echc  one, 

I  tell  you  by  my  ffay !  " 

the  carle  sayd,  "  by  Maryo  bright, 
I  am  afrayd  of  yon  this  night ! 

I  see  you  rowne  '  and  reason,^ 
I  know  ^  you  not  A  itt  were  day, 
I  troe  you  thinkc  more  then  yon  say, 

I  am  affrayd  of  treason. 


Th«  Earl 
Mjrshe'U 
pay  him  out 
■oinedAy. 


The  man 
•zplaliM 
thatbeifl 
afraid  of 
thsm. 


*'  the  night  is  mcrke,*  I  may  not  see 
104     what  kind  of  men  thai  yon  bee. 
but  A  you  will  doe  one  thinge, 

swere  to  doc  me  not  ^  deHcase/ 

then  wold  I  fiainc  you  please, 
100         if  I  cold,  with  any  thinge.*' 

then  sayd  the  Eric  with  words  ffree, 
•*  I  pray  yon,  fiellow,  come  hither  to  mee, 
A  to  some  towne  vs  bringe ; 
118     A  aAer,  if  wee  may  th<*e  kenn, 
amonge  Ixirdx  and  gentlemen 

Wi>e  slmll  re<{uito  '  thy  di^alinge.** 

"  of  lordM,"  sayeH  hi»e,  "  M|ieake  no  more  ••  I 
116     with  them  I  haue  nothing  to  doi*, 
nor  iteuer  thinke  to  haue ; 


If  they'll 
■WMU-  not  to 

hut  him, 

b«nihelp 
tbem. 


TbaEarl 
■art.  tf  b« 
will,  thrj'll 


rarl  him 
Lunla. 


Th*  Ban 
■aj*h»-U 


.  *.   aiiriKiert>r(ily '    at    a   timr  an- 

.bImI.       Jv^nra.    trm]ia«     Malutum. 

-  P       Srr  p.  386,  Dotc  •.  alvVr.       F. 

li.'^  ax.  II      F. 

•i/r-**.  I  •■    •h.^firr.      I*. 

:  I  ta:k.  •«  i:i  S|uULB{«rr.&c.-  l^yce. 

Vrf#  kii-V        p. 

;.  r  .lark      1*. 

K>JuNMar.-I>. 


*  pivjodiiv,    to    makr    nnrasr. 
JohiiM'ii.  — 1*. 

•  /orte,  ijtntr.      V. 

*•  iniir  I*  <'i<miMirf> 
.\i)Ui*\ntan*i*  «»f  lll^l•«■hlp  w^Il  y  n<v^(, 
F«»r,  f'ir»tr  •»r  laj»tr,  lirn-  lui  ••»U  }  t* 
Xiuw^Ux.  Tnt^rrt*  fn*ni  M**  li  ii>.. 
Iiiirk  t>r  Iai»c  Iraf.  4*aml>  I'liir.  Lab.,  lu 
ktitq.  Amit^.,  Tol  I.  I .  UtWk.  -  K. 


562 


JOHH   DB   RESUB. 


toLordft. 


flbr  I  had  r&ther  be  bronght  in  bale, 
my  hood  or  that  *  I  wold  vayle,* 
120        on  them  to  crouch  or  crane.'  '* 


TheKinff 
•akahiiB 
who  be  it. 


nMKinc^i 


1S4 


the  Kiti^  sayd  Cnrteonslje, 
"  what  inanner  of  man  aree  yee 

att  home  in  yonr  dwellinge  ?  " 
"  a  husbandman,  fibrssooth  I  am, 
&  the  Kings  bondman  * ; 

thereof  I  haue  good  Idkinge/* 


tlio'bencTvr 
miokBtohiin. 


'*  Str,  when  spake  you  w»th  our  King  ? 
128     "in  ffaith,  neuer,  in  all  my  lining  ! 
he  knoweth  not  my  name ; 

A  I  haue  my  Capull  •  A  my  crofft  • ; 

if  I  speake  not  with  the  Kttt^  oft, 
132         I  care  not,  by  St.  lame !  " 


»t 


*  or  that,  i.e.  before  that. — P. 

*  vail,  to  let  fiill ;  to  suffer,  to  deecend. 
in  token  of  respect.  Fr.  avalUr  U  bonet, 
Johnson. — P. 

'  Was  John,  like  Chancer^s  Reere,  '  a 
sklendre  colericke  man'?  Among  the 
marks  of  persons  of  '  ChoUericke  com- 
plexion '  are :  *  The  sixth  is,  they  be  stout 
Btomacked,  that  is,  they  can  suffer  no 
injuries,  by  reason  of  the  heate  in  them. 
And  therefore  ATicen  sayth,  That  to  take 
every  thing  impatiently  signifieth  heate. 
The  seauenth  is,  they  be  liberall  to  those 
that  honour  them,' — as  John  says  in  lines 
169,  243,  he'll  give  the  wanderers  all  they 
▼ant,  HO  that  they  be  thankful : — *  The 
fourteenth  is,  he  is  wily,' — cp.the  first  bad 
supper,  below ; — '  The  eleuenth  is,  he  is 
soone  angry,  through  his  hole  nature ' — 
as  the  King's  porter  experiences,  1. 731; — 
•The  thirteenth  is,  he  is  bold,  for  bold- 
nesse  commeth  of  great  heat,  specially 
about  the  heart,* — cp.l.  304; — John's  cow- 
ardice at  first.  1.  97,  was  but  prudence, 
the  better  part  of  valour.  Also,  he  must 
have  had  a  beard.  '  The  ninth  is,  a 
Cholericke  person  is  hayry,  by  reason  of 


the  heate  that  openetb  the  pores,  aad 
mouetb  the  matter  of  bajres  to  tbe 
skinne.  And  therefore  it  is  a  common 
saying,  Tht  ChoUricke  man  is  as  hofrvt 
at  a  Goat.*  On  the  other  hand  John  mvst 
have  had  a  cross  of  *  the  sanguine  person' 
in  him,  for  '  Secondly,  the  Sanguine  per- 
son is  meny  and  jocond,  that  is  to  uj, 
with  merry  words  he  moueth  other  to 
laugh,  or  else  he  is  glad  through  be- 
nignity of  the  sanguine  humour,  pro- 
uoking  a  man  togladnesse  andjocondity, 
through .  cleare  and  perfect  spirits  in- 
gendred  of  bloud.  Thirdly,  he  ^adly 
heareth  fables  and  merry  sports,  for  the 
same  cause.  .  Fifthly,  he  gladly  drinketh 
good  Wine.  Sixthly,  he  delighteth  to 
feede  on  good  meate.  by  reason  that  the 
sanguine  person  desireth  the  most  like  to 
his  complexion,  that  is,  good  Wines  and 
good  meates.'  Reqimen  Sanitatis  Se- 
Umi,  ed.  1634,  p.  169-71.— F. 

*  i.  e.  VassalL — P. 

*  capuil,    i.  e.    ke^,    Welch    for  a 
Horse.    Lye. — P. 

*  Croft  est  agellus  prope  domum 
ticum.    Lye. — P. 


JOHN   DB   REEUB. 


563 


IM 


**  what  is  thj  uune,  ffellow,  hj  tby  leaae  P  '* 
**  nuuTj/*  quoth  hee,  *'  lohn  de  Reene  ^ ; 

I  care  not  who  itt  heare ; 
ffor  if  joa  come  into  my  inne,' 
with  becffe  &  bread  jou  shall  beg^nn 

Boone  att  jour  sapper  * ;  [PNpt  <»] 


HUnameU 
John  da 
Baere; 


h«c*n  tod 


"  salt  Bacon  of  a  joere  old, 
140    ale  Mat  is  both  sower  A  cold/ — 

I  vse  neither  braggatt  *  nor  beere, 
I  lett  yon  witt  wi'thonten  lett, 
I  dare  cate  noe  other  meate, 
144         I  sell  my  wheate  ech  yeere." 


withitala 
bttcoD  and 
■onriUa: 

b*  brews  no 
beer,  for 


be  m\U  bU 

WbCAt, 


"  why  doe  yon,  lohn,  sell  j'otir  wheate  ?  ** 
"  ffor  [I]  dare  •  not  eate  thai  I  gett. 
therof  I  am  ffall  wrothe  ; 
I4S     ffor  I  lone  a  draught  of  good  drinke  as  well 
as  any  man  that  doth  itt  noil, 
A  alsoe  a  good  wheat  loffe. 

'*  ffor  he  that  ffirst  ^  stameth  lohn  de  rceue, 
US     I  pray  to  god  hce  may  ucuer  well  *  cheeae,* 
neither  on  water  nor  land, 

whether  itt  be*^  Sherriffe  or  King 

that  makes  sach  statuinge,** 
IM         I  outcept  *'  neaer  a  one  ! 


he  dare  not 
keep  It, 


thoofb  be 
llkM 
food  drink 


Mar  all  vbo 
•tarre  him 
ctkine  to 
grief! 


Qn^ry,  John  th**  Rrere,  i.r.  BwliflT. 

8e«  St.  7.  I"  3.     I*. 
mii#,  AuL    est  ruliirulam,  mrema, 
rvoriam  dumaa.     looc,  a  Ixjuae,  ha« 
;jflii.~r. 
•Qlfp^rv  -  P. 

.V**  nt  acrt*tta  rerrisia,  uii  ft*mf 
I  .  .  .  Thietrit  tl««*!arefh  flur  (hiii|r*. 
rhirh  one  mar  know  giR»i  Ale  ari<l 
*.  The  ftr^t  !•,  that  \\.W  im*«  •»*wrT, 
hat  hurVrth  thr  •tuniai'k**.  A  MMrr 
If  -  a«  Arh-tn  eaitb  in  many  I'lii.**-*) 
Mb  the  itiorvea.  Ao'l  the  «tuma«*ke 
■M«l«r  foil  of  •to«w«a,  eaperiall; 


alxMil  the  hrim  or  m«»ilth.    Hr^imen  Sani' 
hitiM  Sairrnt,  e«l.  1634,  |i.  59.     F. 

•  (*)uuo.  Itrtthi,  (*anih.  Hr.  hrui^mi. 
A  fcWfri  (Innk  matle  of  hi>n«>v  Si  api*^*, 
iue*l  ill   \Vrtl«-a,  &*•.      I'm'e  (I'lua*.      V. 

•  I  a.in-.  Qu.  -  1*. 

•  fln.t.  ii^Uui/.  Qu      V. 

•  ChriTf.  ijii.  I*.  Fr  •A*'r«^  tn  brini* 
a  )iu»iht>4«  til  a  hcail.  |{rl  «t*U  thn*\vh 
it ;  fmiii  -A  f'     F. 

••  M"*  »*r     F.  "  •laimmr— r. 

**  ftirti   t-ti-eiiC       r       An    inM  h>hff^l. 
Outtakt  ia  the  uUW  viml       p 


564 


JOHN    DE   REEUE. 


He 

whierettaay 

Ure. 


160 


'*  ffor  and  the  Kiti^  penny  were  Lajd  by  mine, 
I  durst  as  well  as  hee  drinke  the  ^  wine 

till  all  mj  good  *  were  gone, 
but  sithence  thai  wee  are  mett  ^  soe  meete, 
tell  mee  where  is  your  recreate/ 

yon  seeme  good  laddes  eche  one." 


The  Earl 

In  the 

King's 

booae. 

Johnpro- 
mlaet  to 
lodge  them  if 


the  Erie  answered  with  words  fiaire, 
164     "in  the  kings  house  is  oar  repayre,^ 
if*  wee  bee  out  of  the  way." 

"  this  night,"  quoih.  lohn,  "  you  shall  not  spill ; 

such  harbour  I  shall  bring  you  till ; 
168        I  hett  7  itt  you  to-day. 


tlMyarB 


tmtifthej*i« 
Miocy  be'U 
I  oat. 


172 


*'  soe  that  yee  take  itt  thankeffullye 
in  gods  name  &  St.  lollye, 

I  aske  noe  other  pay ; 
&  if  you  be  sturdy  &  stout, 
I  shall  garr  *  you  to  '  stand  without, 

ffor  ought  that  you  can  say. 


with  the 

help  of  hie 

two  neigh-  176 

bouts, 


owned  by 

the  Bishop  of 

Durham 

and  the  Earl 

of  Olo'ster,  180 


*'  for  I  haue  2  neighbors  won  *®  by  mee 
of  the  same  £freeledge  ^^  that  am  I, 

of  old  band-shipp  >*  are  wee  : 
the  Bishopp  of  Durham  this  towne  **  oweth, 
the  Erie  of  Gloster — who-soe  him  knoweth — 

Lord  of  the  other  is  hee. 


•  the,  delend. — P. 

•  goods,  qu. — P. 

•  One  stroke  too  many  in  the  MS. — F. 

•  ?  MS.  retreate,  home. — F. 

•  repair,  resort,  abode,  the  act  of  be- 
taking oneself  any  whither.  Johnson. — P. 

•  ?  but.— F. 

^  i.  e.  I  promise,  assure. —  P. 

•  cause. — F. 

•  To,  delend.  Qu.— P. 
»•  i.  e.  dweU.— P. 

"  /relege,  freedom,  power,  privilege:  a 
quo   forte  corrupt.     It  is  yet  UBed   in 


Sheffield.  Ray.  Glosa.  ad  G.  Doug.^ 
has  render  d  Cut  tanta  Deo  perm 
potestas,  Quhat  God  has  to  him  grai 
SIC  frelege,  St.  9,  v.  97.— P.  A.4 
frtoliuc  is  A  free  offering,  a  sacrifice : 
-lac  and  -Itdm  have  the  meaning  of  st 
condition. — -F. 

"  i  band.  Vinculum,  retinaculum,  1 
men,  nexus  ;  A.S,  banda. — P. 

"  Perhaps  Tone,  viz.  the  one  of 
Companions  was  vassal  to  the  Bial 
vid.  p.  66,  V.  251  [of  MS. ;  voL  i.  p.  : 
1.  466  of  text].— P. 


JOHN   DB   RSEUE. 


565 


IS4 


**  wist  mj  neighbors  that  I  were  thratt,' 
I  TOW  to  grod  the  wold  not  Ictt 

ffor  to  come  soone  to  mec  ; 
if  any  wrong  were  to  mee  done, 
wee  3  dnnit  ffight  a  whole  aftemoone, 

1  tell  jou  sikerlye." 


wbo'd  flght 
all  aftemoon 
for  him. 


the  Kiiuj  tULjd,  "  John,  tell  V8  not  this  tale ; 
!§•     wee  are  not  ordayned  ffor  Imttell,* 
our  weeds  are  wett  and  cold  ; 

heerc  is  no  man  tfmi  yee  shall  grceoe. 

but  helfie  vs,  lohn,  by  yoi«r  leaae, 
I9S         With  bright  a  ffeeare'  and  bold.'* 


TheKlnic 
MJ*  their 
dotbm 
wet. 


tb^  want  a 
gVMid  firr. 


196 


"  Ifaith/*  sayd  I<»hn,  ''that  yon  nliall  want, 
ffor  ffuell  hiH^rt*  is  wondenms  scant, 

as  I  hi'<*n'  hnue  V(H'  told, 
thou  p*tt(*th  n<>e  othiT  <»f  John  de  lU'oue; 
ffor  the-  kings  statuti'S,^  whilest  I  Hue, 

I  thinke  U^  vhc  and  Iiold. 


John  Niyt  h§ 
can't  irlve 
thru  thai. 


a>  h«>  U  a 
U'tiiliuan. 


**  If  thou  tind  in  my  house  |>aymeiit  ffmc,* 
Suu     or  in  my  kit<*hin  jmultry  slaiiie, 
|>«  )-a<lu('iitun»  tliou  Wdlil  s:iy 
Ih'ti  I(»hn  llci'Ui*  his  \utui\  hath  hmken  : 
I  wold  not  that  Huoli  wonU  wii^n*  n]M>ken 
SU4         in  the  kingH  *  houM*  uiiothfr  day, 


If  }te  «fn»  to 
ft<r>|  th'tn 
mrtl. 


A  •>»  ^rrfi.'iiiM.  t«i  thnalrn,  ili*'|Uii-t, 

w.!h  »  Kn^'h*  Ur.  \.-  V 
»r«  f.  — .ii.'t"  Wtlli.^fii  t|i«*  C"n'|'H"n»r*« 
!hi*  f.r»*  an*I  l:.*!i'*  ««Tf  !'■  U-  p-it 
a*  •::•  H  .f  .-Ii^-k  iiirt«».  mi-l  |-»«'|I«- 
To  •*•!  T":.»  •■»#  r..*  t' ni'i't  li.ii*  U«ii 
«-lta:<  •«!  «  ..•  II  .It*:::)  «|mi^t-  Y. 
1     W    •  !'\     T*.%\     'If     fliMtl    t'-.vA    III    II.Y 

;•»■   1*41  ti  «!r  fiiaifi.'  fi»rta«*«'   «'«  mi|'i'* 
|«in   iJr   ntalu* ,    l.r.    nhitf     )irt«ul. 


S.  t'li.iiii*  r.  '  W|u»r  VII*  h'm  f.i,-,.  njk  |iit:ii«t 
•!i-  tiiisii.  '      H'lUf  »'f  Sir  'Ihujt-iii       I.xr. 

r.       '  I'.lWli.t!!.    n    kllnl  «if   t-)|i<««H*Olki    ' 

11. 1  :.«<  II.  Twiii.t  xf  riMiriit  «aa  U.'h 
A  •!•••  i.iP  •■!■•%•. I  ii.<'.  •pii'>it  «  fir.  *i  t  I 
r»"«':j  •■  :ii  H  t  .  «•  li.  .iri'l  jiIm*  rhr  (•••ik  r  tt 
ij.iinf  I'lr  •Ml.!  «iii<*  "n"  //«!/#'»■*  1*1 
//i-.'.  I     L's.:    .1,  ,|  /;,'„.  /;..<.  \.-,  y 

l<r«.i'!.  ■!■    i.  I    l.'H.  i^trt  II    U-l<>«,  ihfii  I 
•rr|M'«'   I*  r  •  .«iia  "  •pii-i^l  I •!*■••  I "      Y. 
*  Tu  tt..  Kii|;au       I*. 


566 


JOHN   DE   BESUE. 


It  ml«hi  fti 
toionM 
ofBcUla* 
on,  and 
tajorthia. 


SOS 


"  ffor  itt  might  tame  me  to  g^reat  greeffe  * ; 
Buch  proud  ladds  that  beare  office 

wold  danger  a  pore  man  aje ; 
&  or  I  wold  pray  thee  of  mercy  longe, 
yett  weere  I  better  '  to  lett  thee  gange 

in  twentye  twiine  devillB  way.'  " 


Jobn  tttkM 
tli«Kin«, 
Binhop,  and 
Bvltohia 


thus  the  rode  to  the  towne : 

515  lohn  de  Reene  lighted  downe 

beside  a  comlye  hall.^ 
4  men  beline  ^  came  wight  ^  ; 
they  hasted  them  ffoll  swyft 

516  when  they  heard  lohn  call ; 
th6  served  him  honestly  and  able, 
And  [led  ^  ]  his  horsse  to  the  stable, 

&  lett  noe  terme  misfall. 


[!>««] 


BlawiilB 
W6loonMi 


SSO    some  went  to  wame  their  dame 

that  lohn  had  brought  guests  home.* 
shee  came  to  welcome  them  tyte  * 
in  a  side  *®  kirtle  of  greene," 
884     her  head  was  dight  all  by-deene,^^ 
the  wiffe  was  of  noe  pryde ; 


Her  hair  it 
white. 


228 


her  kerchers  were  all  of  silke, 
her  hayre  as  white  as  any  milke, 
loue-some  of  hue  **  and  hyde  ; 


'  Two  letters  are  marked  out  after  the 

*  Yt  were  better. — P. 

■  *  twenty  devil  way '  is  the  ordinary 
phrase. — F. 

*  Cp.  Chaucer's  description  of  the 
Reere's  'wonyinj?  fair  upon  an  heth.' 
Pro/.  Cant.  T.  1.  609.— F. 

*  belive^  instantly.     Lye. — P. 

*  wight^  swift,  nimble.  Johnson ;  also 
stout,  valiant,  clever,  active.  Gloss?  ad 
G.D.~P. 

'  And  [led]  his  &c.— P. 


•  I  wott/d  read  thus  (St.  38) 
To  welcome  them  that  tyde 

Shee  came  in  a  side  Kiitle  &c, — P. 

•  brot  [3]  guests  hame.     Qu. — P 
'•  all.  or,  that  tyde. — ^P.  tyte,  qui 

— r. 
*'  i.e.  long. — P.     A.-S.  nif,  wide,- 
"  bedentj     Scotch,      is,     immedia 
GlossT  to  Kamsays  Evergreen ;  a  G 
heditnen   praestare   officium.     Gloei 
G.D.— P.   Butch  by  dien,  by  this.- 
»•  ?  MS.  huid-— F.     hue,  Qu..S«e 
&  Grime,  pa. — P. 


JOHN  DB  miKUB.  667 

thm  WM  thicke,  A  some  deal  broad, 
of  comlje  ffatthjoQ  was  thee  made,  ^^^  j, 

both  belly,  backe,  and  tide.  c«mMj. 


S3J     then  lohn  called  his  men  all,  jeha  ofdm 

saves,  '*  build  me  a  ffire  in  the  hall,  nm 

rood  for 

A  gine  their  CapulU  meate  ;  UMir 

la  J  before  them  come  and  hay  ; 
SM     ffor  mj  lone  mbb  of  the  claj, 

ffor  thej  beene  weary  and  wett ; 


**  lay  mder  them  straw  to  the  knee, 
ffor  courtyes  '  comonly  wold  be  lolly  a, 
S40         and  haae  but  litle  to  spend.** 

then  hec  said,  '^  by  St.  lohn,  joka  bidi 

you  are  welcome  euery  one, 

if  you  take  itt  thankefullye  ! 
144     curtesye  I  learned  neu[e]r  none, 

but  after  mee,  ffellowes,  I  read  yon  gone.** 

till  a  chamber  they  went  all  3  ; 


a  charoole  '  ffire  was  burning  bright, 
%4$    candk«  on  chandlours  '  light, 

Eche  ffreake  ^  might  other  see. 
•*  where  are  yowr  sords  •  ?  *'  quoth  lohn  de 

Reeue. 
the  Erie  said,  **  SVr,  by  yowr  leaue, 
131         wee  wcare  none,  p<irdye.*' 


•  €emitj^f%.-   P.  aixi  q>   A*i»y'  naJ  MMer,  |v  160,  I  4rt, 

*  CiMfml   IrM  verv  UMd  to  avuid       m\>orr      V. 


frum  wuhI  or  ctmX   f^rtting  '  chamlluari.  Fr.  rA«tiWWi«r.  a  CatMllr^ 

So    M«i*«    9jf,    aa    thrrv    wrr»    no       »tit-k.     W 

tW  Ladjft  B'Sttyt,  tuI.  iii..  *  fr»-k«*.  man.    Jan.     P. 

•  ••onU.     P. 


568 


JOHN   DE   RKEUE. 


John 

tlMlarl 

wtaotlM 

loiif-lesftd 

feUowiii. 


"The 

Queen's  heed 
Falooner.** 


856 


then  lohn  rowned  ^  wtth  the  Erie  aoe  fifree 
"  what  long  ffellow  is  yonder,"  quoth  hee, 

"  that  is  *  Boe  long  of  lim  and  lyre  *  ?  " 
the  Erie  answered  wtth  words  smaU, 
"  yonder  is  Peeres  pay-ffor-all, 

the  Qneenes  Cheefe  ffawooner.*  " 


•*  u  I  had 
his  gaj  hood, 


rd  keep  DO 
mea't 


"  ah,  ah  !  "  quoth  lohn,  "ffor  gods  good, 

S60     where  gott  hee  that  gay  hood, 
glitering  as  gold  itt  were  ? 
&  I  were  as  proud  as  hee  is  like, 
there  is  no  man  in  England  ryke  ' 

S64         shold  garr  me  keepe  his  gleads  ®  one  yeere. 


Bnt  who*t 
thftt 
next  the 
FUoooer?' 


••Thiift 
•  poor 
Chaplain. 


S68 


"  I  pray  you,  sir,  flfor  gods  werke, 
who  is  yond  in  yonder  serke  ^ 

that  rydeth  •  Peeres  soe  nye  ?  " 
the  Erie  answered  him  againe, 
**  yonder  is  a  pore  chaplaine, 

long  aduanced  or  hee  hee ; 


and  I  am  a 

Sumpter- 

man."  278 


"Gay 

fellows,  and 

pennilefls 

too,  I 

Bopposel"  276 


"41  my  selfe  am  a  sumpter  man,' 
other  craft  keepe  I  none, 

I  say  you  Wi'thouten  Misse." 
"you  are  ffresh  ffellowes  in  your  appay,*® 
lolly  letters  *  *  in  yoitr  array, 

proud  ladds,  &  I  trow  penyles." 


*  whispered. — F. 

*  that  is,  delend. — P. 

■  lim,  i.e.  limb:  lyre,  i.e.  flesh,  quic- 
quid  earnoHum  &  nervosum  in  hoinine. 
Lye.  Also  Lire,  is  complexion  or  air  of 
Me  face.  Gloss,  ad  G.  D.— P.  *'  Lyke 
the  quhj-to  lyllie  wes  her  It/re.*"  Lynde- 
say's  Hist,  of  Squi/er  Meldrum. — F. 

*  fawconere. — P. 

*  ryke,  A.-Sax.  nV^rognum,  imperium. 
—  P. 

*  gleads^  i.e.  Kites. — P. 


.'  serke^  Indusium,  a  shirt  or  sue 
giirment.     Jun. — P. 

•  ?  standeth.— F. 

•  forti  mon. — P. 

*•  ?  content,  self-satisfaction. — F. 

"  To  jet,  int^"  alia,  signifies  to  stro 
to  agitate  the  body  by  a  proud  gaiL  ^ 
the  Turky-Cock  is  said  to  jeti^  whe 
he  bridles  &c.  See  Johnimn,  froi 
Shakesp.  12\*'  Night.  JctUrs  then  ai 
strutters  &c.  See  pag.  237  [of  MS. 
p.  155,  L  178  of  text,  above]. — P. 


JOHX    DE   REBUS. 


569 


the  KiN^  said,  ^  soo  mote  I  thcc, 

there  is  not  a  penny  amongst  >  vb  3 

to  baj  Ts  bread  and  fflesh.** 

tto     **  ah,  ha !  **  quoth  lohn,  '*  there  ia  *  small  chai^ ; 

no*  ffor  coortjes  '  comonl je  are  att  largo, 

if  thej  goe  nener  soe  ffresh. 

"  I  goe  girt  in  a  rassett  g^wnc, 
mj  hood  is  of  homemade  browne, 
sai         I  weare  neither  bumott  *  nor  grocno, 
A  jett  I  troe  I  haae  in  store 
a  1000?  and  some  dcale  more, 
ffor  all  jee  are  prouder  and  ffine  ; 


a  pcttnjr  to 
mjr  for  oar 

-Ah. 
coufttan 
griMrmUjr 
liv«  oo 
peofO*: 


boithoagli 
I 


I'Te  lOOOf.  ta 


tn 


**  therfore  I  saj,  as  mote  I  thee/ 
a  bondman  itt  is  goo<l  *  [to]  bee,^ 

A;  come  of  carles  kinne  ; 
ffor  and  I  bee  in  taaemo  *  sett, 
to  drinke  as  good  wine  I  will  not  Lett, 

as  London  *  Edward  or  his  Quecne.'* 

the  Erie  sajd,  **  bj  gods  might, 
lohn,  thou  art  a  comlj  knight, 

and  sturdy  in  oueryo  ffray." 
**  a  knight !  **  qf<4/th  lohn,  '*  doe  away,  ffor  sliame ! 
I  am  the  King's  bondman. 

Such  wast  words  doe  away  !  [PNptMi] 

**  I  know  you  not  in  your  estate ; 
I  am  misnuKurcd,  well  I  wott  *^ ; 
I  will  not  therto  say  nay. 


ii*t  ««n  to 

tw  a  bond* 


for  I  drink 
M  vwmI  Vint 


•t 


••  Ton'rt  a 

knltflU, 
Juha.** 


*  mmmptt  !■  the  MR-^F. 
•/•rfi  thACit.-P. 

r,  a  kind  of  roUmr,  wh^hrr 


«f  the  PisDrm*!,  which  i»  r»Il«d 
or  m  dan  btuvn  (Frroch  Am- 
MMt)  itaff  von  by  PenoDn  of  qualitj. 
•la»r  ad  O.  Um^^P. 

¥OL.  n.  F  r 


•  St.  49,  as  mate  I  the*.     The^.^to 
thrirr.     Vhl.  Jan.  ft  Ln*. — P. 

•JnrU  ••aii|t»«iti*'-V. 

•  »«v.  or  to  ».«».    Qa— P. 

•  OnlT  \ui\( the  II  in  the  KS— P. 

•  furti  drl«wl.>-P. 

CIUMIC.~P. 


i 


570 


JOHH    DS    REEUE. 


Boiif  MMJ 


■M       ao4 


tnTeUed 

John?" 
••Kotll 


Bat  Ictta 
bold  my  own 
on  tlie  road 
nthome, 

and  bare  got 
Intotzonbto 
by  It." 


"Hare  yon 
any  annonr 
or  weapona* 
John?" 


"None  hot 
a  two- 
pronged 
pitchfork. 


a  rusty 
■word, 

and  alntMid 
knife. 


tho*  perhape 
I  can  fight 
as  well  atf 
yon. 


ao8 


81S 


816 


880 


324 


bat  if  any  such  doe  me  wrong,  ^ 
I  ¥rill  ffight  wfih  him  hand  to  hand,' 
when  I  am  cladd  in  mine  ^  array." 

the  Bishopp  sajd,  "  yon  seeme  stnrdye 
traneUed  yon  nener  beyond  the  sea  ?  " 

Ihon  sayd  sharplye  "  nay  ! 
I  know  none  such  strange  gnise, 
bnt  att  home  on  my  ^  owne  wise 

I  dare  hold  the  hye  way  ; 

"  A  thai  hath  done  lohn  Beene  scath, 
ffor  I  hane  made  snch  as  yon  wrath 

with  choppes  and  chances  ^  yare." 
"  lohn  de  Beene,^  "  sayd  onr  King, 
'*  hast  thon  any  armonringe, 

or  any  weapon  to  weare  ?  " 


"  I  vow,  Sir,  to  god,"  sayd  lohn  thoe,^ 
*'  but  a  pikefforke  with  graines  2 — 

my  ffather  vsed  nener  other  •  speare : — 
a  msty  sword  that  well  will  byte, 
&  a  handfiFdll,  a  thyttille  ^  syde 

that  '^sharplye  will  stare,  *^ 

**  an  acton  *'  &  a  habargyon  a  ffoote  side ; 
&  yett  peraduentnre  I  dnrst  abyde  ** 

as  well  as  thou,  Peeres,  ffor  all  thy  painted  ge 


>  fort^  ttranff.    Dialect  boreaL — P. 
'  forte  bond  to  bond. — P. 

•  ?  mime  in  the  MS.— F. 

•  forte  in  my. — P. 

•  Changes,  Qu.  yare^  ready,   dextrous, 
ready.  — P. 

•  John  the  Reeve. — P. 

•  thoe,  i.e.  then. — P. 

•  bad  no  other.     Qu. — P. 

•  thuUdy  a  knife.  Halliwell.  A.-Sax. 
Intitan^  to  cut  off. — F.  thytiU^  some 
weapon,  perhaps  a  Dagger,  so  named 
from  its  being  worn  upon  the  thigh, 
thigh-tili.  syde  is  long;  perhaps  the  verse 
should  be  read  "  And  a  thytill  a  handAil 


syde,"  i.e.  a  handful  long:  so  a  fool 
is  a  foot  long.  Vid.  Stan.  26,  P»  ^ 
Syde  is  also  broad,  wide. — F. 

'•  will  full  sharplye  share. — P. 

•»  share.— P. 

•*  Acton,  Fr[ench]  Hocqvcton,  i 
militare:  a  kind  of  armour  ma 
TafBty  or  leather,  quilt«d  thick 
stuck  iiill  of  thread,  fringe,  &c,  rea 
from  the  neck  to  the  knee,  worn 
the  Habergeon,  to  save  the  body 
Bruises  &c.  Skene's  ezpcsition  of  c 
words  contain'd  in  the  4  bniks  of  B 
Hagestatem,  1641  Q*** — nbi  plura.- 

"  stand  a  charge,  fight ;  last  out 


JOHN   DB  BEEUE. 


qfeotli  lohn,  "  I  reede  wee  goe  to  the  hall, 
SS8     wee  3  fiellowes ;  &  peeres  paj^for^all 
the  proudest  before  shall  fare." 


571 


Bat  let's  go 
to  supper.'* 


thither  they  raked '  anon-wright '  : 
a  charcole  £^er  buming  bright 
332        wtth  manje  a  Strang  '  brand. 

the  hall  was  large  &  some  dcale  wydc, 
there  bords  were  *  conerod  on  enerye  syde, 
there  mirth  was  comanded.'^ 


Tboygoto 
the  Hall, 
which  has  a 
flro  in  it, 


nnd  tables 
laid. 


336     then  the  good  wiffe  sayd  wtth  a  scemlje  chcere, 
"  yoi*r  supper  is  readyo  there." 

"yett  watter,*"  qtu>th  lohn,  "letts  see." 
by  then  came  Iohn*s  neighbors  2, 
340     hobkin  ^  long  and  hob  alsoo : 
the  ffirst  ffitt  here  ffind  wee. 


John's 
ndj^hbonrs, 
Hobkin  and 
Hodgkin, 
come  in. 


•  went— F. 
«  right.— P. 

•  strong. — P. 

«  wrer  in  the  MS.— F. 

'  /ortif  at  command. — P. 

'  This  was  for  washing  hands. 


Soe 


Babees  Book,  p.  5, 1.  129,  &c. 

Whonne  that  ye  se  joiire  lorde  to  mete 

shallf  goo, 
Be  redy  to  feccho  him  icatcr  soiio. — F. 

*  Hodgkin,  rid.  infra. — P. 


r  p2 


572 


JOHll    DS   BEEUE. 


John 


hto 


the  King  ftt 
top.  the 


BidiopiMxt 
hie  wife. 


tlieBftri 
Dew  the 
King. 


[The  Second  Part.] 

[How  John  feasts  the  King,  and  dances  with  him.] 

lohn  SAjdy  ^*  for  want  of  a  marshall,  I  will  take 

the  wand :  ^ 
Peeres  fiaaooner  before  sliall  gauge ; 
344  begin  the  dish  '  shall  hee. 

0^      ^^      I  goe  to  the  bencb,  thon  prond  chaplaine, 
my  wiffe  shall  sitt  thee  againe ; 
thj  meate- fellow  3  shall  sbee  bee." 
348         be  sett  the  Erie  against  the  King ; 
thej  were  ffaine  att  bis  bidding, 
thus  lobn  marshalled  his  meanje.^ 


his  pvettieit 

daughter 

nxttfae 

KiBg. 

the  other  I7 
the  Bart; 


and  nys 
that  if 


the  King 
married  one, 


Tben  lobn  sperred  ^  where  bis  dangbters  were : 
S5S     **  tbe  fiairer  shall  sitt  by  the  ffawconere ; 
be  is  the  best  ffarrand  ^  man : 

tbe  other  shall  tbe  Sompter  man  bane." 

tbe  Erie  sajd,  '*  soe  god  me  sane ! 
356         of  cnrtesye,  lobn,  thou  can,^  " 

"  If  my  selfe,"  qiiotb  lohn,  "  be  bound,® 
yett  my  daughters  beene  well  ffarrand, 

I  tell  you  sickerlye. 
360     Peeres,  &  thou  bad  wedded  lohn  daughter  reeue, 
there  were  no  man  thai  durst  thee  greeue 

neither  ffor  gold  nor  ffee. 


>  John  said  as  marshal  Pll  take  the 
wand  &c — P.  Compare  J%e  Boke  of 
Curtast/e,  Sloane  MS.  1486,  ed.  Halliwell, 
Percy  Soc.,  ed.  FumiTall  in  Babees  Book 
&c.  E.  E.  Text  Soc.  1868, 
Fowr©  me«  ^ben  \>at  ^erdis  schall«  here, 
Port^,  marshall^,  stnaide,  Tsshere; 
The  'gorier  schall^  haue  J>e  lengest  wande. 
The  marshal^  a  schoiter  schalh*  haue  in 

hande. 

1.  362-6;  Babees  Book,  ^c.  p.  309. 
In  haHe,  niarehalle  sMe  men  schalJr  sett 


Aft«r  here  degre,  witA-out^n  lett. 

1.  403-4.— F. 

•  deese,  dais. — F. 

•  i.e.  Mess-mate. — P. 

•  £Emiilia,  mnltitndo.     Lye. — P. 

•  i.e.  enquired. — P. 

'  farrandf  perhaps  the  same  as  far- 
rantlVf  a  word  in  Staffordshire  signifying 
sufficient,  handsome,  proper  ice.  T.P. 
farand,  farrant^  beseeming,  becoming, 
courteous,  handsome.  Gloss,  to  0. 
Doug*.  — P.  *  knowest — ^F. 

•  bcnde,  or  bando. — P, 


JOHN   DE   RBBUB. 


573 


*'  Somptcr  man,  &.  thoa  tho  other  had,' 
344     in  gfKxl  flfaith  then  thou  wore  made 
fibr  oner  in  this  cuntryo ; 

then,  Peeres,'  thou  might  •  l)eare  the  priio. 

jett  I  wold  tliis  chaplaino  had  a  bencfize, 
3M        as  mote  I  ^  thariue  ^  or  three  *  ! 


mmIUmBwI 

thr  othrr, 
Uiry'db* 


And  Mfor 
OwIUahop. 


97S 


'*  in  thiB  towne  a  kirke  there  is  ; 
&  I  were  king,  itt  shold  l)c  his, 

he  shold  haae  itt  of  mce  ; 
jett  will  I  helpe  as  well  as  I  may." 
the  Ki'n//,  the  Erie,  the  Bishopp,  can  say, 

'*  luhn,  k  wee  line  wee  shall  quitte  thee. 


tt 


If  h«.  John, 
were  klnf , 
lie'd  irlT« 
htm  thdr 
pMifth 
chimh« 


TImtaUS 
proml»l4» 


when  his  daughters  were  come  to  dease,^ 
97C     **  sitt  fiarther,'*  quoth  lohn  withoaten  Leaze,* 

**  fibr  then*  shalbo  no  more.'  Cp«i« 

these  strange  fiellowes  I  doe  not  ken ; 

prraduentare  they  may  be  some  '®  gentlemen ; 
sao         therforo  I  and  my  neighbors  towe. 


M4 


"  att  side  end  bord  wee  '*  will  bco, 
out  of  the  gentles  companye  *'  : 

thinko  yee  not  best  sue  ? 
flfor  itt  was  neuer  the  Iaw  of  Rntrland '' 
to  sett  gentles  blood  with  bound  '^  ; 

therfure  to  sup{krr  will  wee  goe.**  *' 


John  Mid  kit 

tWt>  MPlfb- 

aiAdaUfaliw 


»  TM^had,  Qa-   P. 

•  Yho-  Vf^tm,  Aic      P. 
'  BKlOKht,  m\Ar.      p. 

•  to  mufie  I.     P. 

•  Qia.  MS.  "Pirrr  illOOr  ntrrtkc  t«»o  few 
Inr  tkmnme.  "Thnre  ur  th«v  **  is  ibo 
yk^rmmr  lotrbdrtl.— F. 

•  allthrw.  Qii-  P. 

•  /ArM.  rmt  aJtior  Ac  emin<-ntiur  m<*nii4 
is  auIa.  Thr  hiKh  t«l>U.  SwJan.  />ru, 
iImJl.  liTDi  h.  •r«t,  uM«.  Pt*r  mrtim^n. 
»lj.,  *  fraat,  (•atx{|un,  or  rot4*iiaiiim'Mt 
&  per  aL  mHoo.  to  set  at  d«t»  vith  uii« 


^I^t.  k'Spitimm)  if  takeo  for  fn<>od4iS|\ 
alliance,  or  [c«>T)riuuit.  .  .  .  ,-i.p. 

•  /•*-'.    LyioK.  faWbooJ,    irmchrrj, 
I'mr.  Gl«>«ii.  to  Chaocrr. — P. 


mo**. 


P 


*•  aumr  tfrlrnJ      P. 

"   .\l   *i«i«*  U  nl  eo«i  wr*  Ac. 

VM  •< 

15.     At   •uUn  \mtt\ir  wi*  Sit, 

Sti  «iih* 

outrn  fur  «i*h>Mtt.      .^rnstoo*- 

P. 

"  nnl,«  half  thr  II  in  thr  MS.      F. 

'•  F.ni;i«»tMlf.      P. 

••  l-.«!r.       P. 

»»  WtrU  gu.-P. 


574 


JOHN    DE   BBBUB. 


The  ■upper 

UbMii 

bmd, 

MdtlMOOD, 

broth, 

toftnbeef, 

KNir«fe. 


it. 
Johnnys 


heUgiTO 
him  no 
better, 
nnleas  they 
all  swear 


not  to  tell 
the  King. 


The  King 
vows  he'll 
nevOT  tell 
him, 


388 


892 


896 


400 


404 


408 


412 


by  then  came  in  beane  bread,' 
salt  Bacon  rusted  and  redd, 

&,  brewice  '  in  a  blacke  dish, 
leane  salt  beefe  of  -a  jeere  old, 
ale  that  was  both  sower  &  cold : 

this  was  the  ffirst  service : 

echo  one  had  of  that  jlke  '  a  messe. 

the  king  sajd,  "  soe  hane  I  blisse, 
such  service  nerest^  I  see." 
quoth  lohn,  *'  thou  gettest  noe  other  of  mee 

att  this  time  but  this."  ^ 

**  yos,  good  fellow,"  the  ^King  gan  say, 
"  take  this  service  here  ®  away, 

&  better  bread  vs  bringe  ; 
&  gett  vs  some  better  drinke ; 
we  shall  thee  requite,  as  wee  thinke, 

Without  any  letting." 

qtioth  lohn,  "  beshrew  the  morsell  of  bread 
this  night  thni  shall  come  in  jout  head 

but  thou  sweare  me  one  thinge ! 
swere  to  me  by  booke  and  bell 
thai  thou  shalt  neuer  lohn  Reeue  betteU 

vnto  Edward  our  kinge." 

qwoth  the  king,  "  to  thee  my  truth  I  plight, 
he  shall  nott  witt  our  service  ^ 

no  more  then  he  doth  nowe, 
neuer  while  wee  3  Hue  in  land." 
"  therto,"  qwoth  lohn,  "  hold  vp  thy  hand, 

&  then  I  will  thee  troe." 


*  Compare  the  loaves  of  beans  and 
bran  baked  for  his  children  by  the 
Ploughman.  Vision^  p.  89,  1.  270  ed. 
Skeat.— F. 

*  Brewice,  i.e.  Broth,  Pottage.  Jun. — 
P.  The  ice  stands  over  ish  marked  out. 
— F. 


■  ilk,  ipse  that  ilk,  idem  thj 
Lye. — P.  *  never,  or  n< 

*  Fort^  other  [Meate  or  other 
Q*>  John,  at  this  Time,  but  this 
Thou  gettest  none  of  me, — P. 

•  MS.  herer.— F. 

'  our  service  witt     Qu, — P. 


JOHH   DE   RBEUS.  575 


»» 


416     "  loe/*  qti^/th  the  kin^,  '*  mj  hand  is  hecre ! 

•*»oe  in  mine  !  '*  i\iwih  tlio  Erie  with  a  merrj  cheere,  ul^SJi^ 

•*  thereto  I  giao  god  a  vowe.** 
**  hane  heere  my  hand  !  *'  the  Dinhopp  sayd.  •»*  BUhoi>. 

4S0     "  maiT}'/*  (|iK>th    lohn,  "  thou    may  hold  thco  well 
apayd, 
ffor  itt  in  ffor  thy  power.' 

"  take  this  away,  thou  hobkin  *  long,  J"»»n  oraaii 

&  let  V8  «itt  out  of  the  throncr  •nin^ 

4S4         att  a  side  bords  end  ; 

these  strange  flfellowes  thinke  yncouthlye 
this  night  att  our  '  Cookerye, 
such  as  god  hath  vs  sent.^*' 

4is     by  them  *  came  in  the  payment  breads  ana  thra  hm» 

wine  thai  was  both  white  and  redd  ^4nA  bri*i. 

in  siluer  cupp[e]«  cleare.  wtne. 
*'  a   ha !  *'   qt^^th  lohn,*  "  our  supper  begins  with 
drinke ! 

43S     taaste  itt,  ladds  !  &  looke  how  ^  yeo  thinke/  ii*  triii 

ffor  my  loue,  and  make  good  cheere !  tm^  hi« 


TVf»  it 


^  of  meate  A  drinke  you  shall  haue  good  ffare ; 

A  as  ffur  good  wine,  wee  will  not  H}mn*,  of  a, 

I  goe*  you  to  vnderstand.*® 
ffor  euerye  yecro,  I  tell  thee  thoe,** 
I  will  hane  a  tunn  or  towo  mmi  tii*  imi 

of  the  best  thai  may  l)e  ffound.'*  foc 

440     •*  yec  sliall  see  3  Churles  heere 

drinke  the  wine  with  a  merry  cheere ; 
I  pray  you  doe  you  soe  ; 

•  F'«rt#,  »  ?  MS  ih.n.-F. 

Qb^   J«»bn  J^f  miir  \n>  mil  ii|«f  •  t^tmfh  J<*hn.  &c.  f*  hMJ^lrm^-  P. 

h'or  it  i»  io  mjr  |««»w.t  now.-   I*.  *  Ftrt^  till  h«»w  A:e.     IV 

ui  fur  l*r%0et,  fniAt.  ttdvantagr  ;  *  Qu.  »!iiik.  prr)ui|t«  Uunkr.     I*. 


Fr.  P^^.     F.  •  Qu  prr      V 

•  Hudfkitt,  riJ.  lafrm.-   V.  '•  un.lrr*tonar.— P. 

•  id  *mr  k€.  W  '»  tht>r  iiow  or  tnie.-  P. 

•  Ood  aocli  as  mkL^P.  **  foiKU>.— P. 


576 


JOHN   DB   BESUS. 


ThflT^l  All 
mp,  and 
tbendanca. 


TteEari 

MJVtlM 

King 

can  drink  no 

better  wino. 


Nextoome 

tbeboWt 

hMd, 

caponi, 
yeniBOD, 


swans, 
curlews, 
herons,  &o. 


A  when  onr  supper  is  all  doone, 
444     yon  and  wee  will  dance  soone ; 
letts  see  who  best  can  doe." 

the  Erie  sajd,  "  by  Marry  bright, 
wheresoener  the  Ktti^  lyeth  this  night, 
448         he  drinkcth  no  better  wine 

then  thou  selfe^  does  att  this  tyde." 
''infaith,"  qtioth  lohn,  '*soe  had  leeaer'Idid 
then  line  ay  in  woe  &  payne.' 

452     "  If  I  be  come  of  Carles  kinne, 

part  of  the  good  that  I  may  winne,        ^^^'ej 

some  therof  shall  be  mine, 
he  that  neuer  spendeth  but  alway  spareth, 
456     comonlye  oft  ^  the  worsse  he  ffareth ; 
others  will  broake  *  itt  flfine.®  " 

by  then  came  in  red  wine  &  ale, 
the  bores  head  ^  into  the  hall, 
460         then  sheild  ^  with  sances  seere  '  ; 
Capons  both  baked  &  rosted,*® 
woodcockes,  Ycnison,  without  host, 

&  dish  meeate  **  dight  ffull  deere. 

464     swannes  they  had  piping  hott, 
Coneys,  curleys,**  well  I  wott, 
the  crane,  the  heame  *'  in  jBere,** 


'  thyself.— P. 

•  i.e.  rather:  I  leever,  legend. — P. 
■  pine  or  pyne.     Chauc  idem. — P. 

•  oft,  defend.— F, 

•  to  brouke,  broke,  to  brook,  bear ; 
To  use,  enjoy.     Urry  in  Chauc. — P. 

•  fine  for  finely. — P. 

'  See  the  Carol,  The  horis  hedefursf^ 
in  Mrs.  Ormsby  Gore's  Porkington  MS. 
No.  10.  The  carol  is  printed  in  lieliq. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.,  Babees  Boo/c&c.  p.  397. — F. 

•  The  swerd  of  Bacon  is  call'd  the 
Shield  :  and  the  homy  Part  of  brawn  in 
some  places. — P. 

•  seere,  sere,  several ;  many ;  contract. 


from  sever,  or  setTral.    Gloss.  « 
—P. 

>•  roste.— P. 

"  sweet  dishes,  &c.     Kussell 
his  Boke  of  Nurture,  1.  513—14, 
Some  man«r  cury  of  Cookes  craff 

y  haue  espied, 
how  ]>eire   dischmctes   ar  dress 
hony  not  claryfied. — F. 

"  curlews. — P. 

**  heron.  See  Russell,  in  Babet 
p.  143-4.  Compare  this  feast  wi 
sell's  Festfor  a  Franklen.  B.B.  p 
— F. 

'*  i.e.  together,  along. — P. 


JOHN    DE   BEEUS. 


577 


4M 


47S 


476 


4M> 


pigeonn,  pftrtrid[g]cs,  wi'ih  spiceryo, 
Elkct,*  fflomefi,'  wi'th  ffroterye.* 
lolin  bade  them  make  good  checro. 

the  Erie  sajd,  "  see  moto  I  tbec, 
lohn,  jOQ  seme  vs  rojallyc  ! 

if  joe  had  dwelled  att  London/ 
if  king  Edward  where  here/ 
he  might  be  a-payd  «  with  this  supper/ 

snch  ffreindshipp  wee  haae  ffoond." 

"  Nay,"  sayd  lohn,  "  by  gods  grace, 
A  Edward  wher  in  *  this  place, 

heo  ahold  not  tonch  this  tonne, 
hee  wold  be  wrath  with  lohn,  I  hope ; 
therefibre  I  beshrew  '  the  aoape  '^ 

that  shall  come  in  his  month  ^M  " 

theratt  the  King  laughed  &  made  g^ood  cheere. 
the  Bishopp  sayd,  "  wee  fare  well  hcere !  " 

the  Erie  sayd  as  him  thought, 
they  spake  lattine  amongst  them  there  *' : 
infay th,*'  qw/itli  lohn,  "  and  yee  greeue  mee, 

fiuU  deere  itt  sluUbe  bought 


u 


partrldgw, 
Urts4c. 


TiMEari 
njt  lt'» 
a  royal 
f«MC; 


the  KInir 
mlirbt  tm 
lesMd  with 


fi 


•houkin*t 
hare  a 
■rraiK**  vajra 
JobD. 


Tb«TCalk 

JuhntrUa 
thcai  lo 


4S8     '*  speake  English  cuerye-eche  one,'' 
or  else  sitt  still,  in  the  devills  name  ! 

such  talke  loue  1  naught.*^ 
Lattine  spoken  amongst  Lewd  *'  mrn, 
49t     therin  noe  reason  ffind  I  can ; 
ffor  flalshood  itt  is  wrought. 


•  *  KIA,  a  viki  awnn.    Northern.'    Hal- 
\wAL     ?  ffik,  mtmf  diiih  of  <«i{«.--  K. 

*  J /Umms,  a  kiod  of  cbf'f^fmkr.  -  F. 

•  frwirnr^.    fruit     follw^tirrljr    taki-n, 
rmtifr\t    Vf.    Johofm.     I*.        Frittfra, 

bire  DO  (ii*abt.  S«^  thrm  in  HuMrH'a 
UAv  tfSmrUrt  (n.  I6H-70  Dah^ts  IknJi) 
kttd  BUfiT  ocber  BilU  of  Farv— F. 

*  F*>rU  Aa  re  at  Li>&Juo  Wfjo'iL  -  P. 

•  EavaraVirlf  w^tt  \yi^tr,  -  P. 

*  to  appaj,  to  ntiaf J,  to  eooteot,  beacr 


'well  appai<i*  U  |iI«iyi^L     'illaptiayfl' 
ia  unoaiy  (Fr.  opynyrr).     Johna.    V. 
aupiwrr.     I*. 

MS.  wh(*nn.—  F.     wtr»  in.  — 1\ 
Usimt,  rerbnm  malrprnrantia.  Jan. 


t 


-I 


I* 


ap,  auap*.--!*. 


*•  That  in  hia  Mtmth  •boUrcMii«>.-r. 

•■  p*Tlmi»4  "  thrw  "     V. 

*•  ©Trmu**  oo^.     P. 

*•  not,  or  buM  I  aaaitbt.-  P. 

^  LrarU.  i.«.  LijVMO.      JohaaiiB.-  -P. 


578 


JOHN    DB    REEUB. 


he  doesn't 
like  whl«per> 
ing, 


it's  timitofn' 
work 


"  row[n]ing,*  I  loue  itt  •  neither  jonng  nor  old; 
therefore  yee  ought  not  to  bee  to  bold, 
496         neither  att  Meate  nor  meale. 

hee  was  ffalse  tJiat  rowning  began ; 
theerfore  I  say  to  you  certaine 
I  loue  itt  neuer  a  deale : 


and  not  to  500 

be  tolerated 

by  any 

oourteoQB 

hoit. 

The  Earl 

promlaet  to 

leave  off.  504 


"  that  man  can  [nought]  of  curtesye 
that  lets  att  his  meate  rowning  bee,' 

I  say,  soe  haue  I  seile.*  " 
the  Erie  sayd  right  againe, 
"  att  yowr  bidding  wee  will  be  baine,* 

wee  thinke  you  say  right  weele." 


Then  sweets 
come  In, 


and  John 
proposes 
that  they 
shall  be 
merry 


by  this  came  vp  flfrom  the  kitchin 
sirrupps  ^  on  plates '  good  and  fi&ne, 
608         wrought  in  a  ffayre  array. 

"  Sirrah,®  *'  sayth  lohn,  "  sithe  wee  are  mett, 
&  as  good  ffellowes  together  sett, 
lett  vs  be  blythe  to-day. 


and  he  and 
hi.4  mates 
shall 


612     "Hodgkin  long,  &  hob  of  the  Lath,^ 
you  are  counted  good  ffellowes  botb,*° 
now  is  no  time  to  thrine  ^  ^  ; 


•  rowning,  they  are  used  promiscously 
in  Chauc":  — P. 

•  tw,  qu. ;  or  loved  neither. — P. 

'  John  is  right  here.      Whispering  is 
strictly  forbidden  by  the  old  Books  of 
Courtesy,  &c. 
'•  Loke  ^ou  rownde  not  in  no  maunys  ere.** 

Bab(es  Book,  p.  20,  1.  64. 
Looke  that  ye  be  in  riht^  stable  sylence, 
Withtf-oute  lowde  lauht/re  or  langelynge, 
liovnynge^  lapynge  or  other  Insolence, 

ib.  p.  253, 1.  93-6. 
Bckcnyng,  fyngurj'ng,  now  |?ou  vse, 
And  pryue  rowning  loke  thou  refuse. 
Bake  of  Curtastje,  1. 250,  Bab.  Book,  p.  306. 

•  sell,  Scotch,  i.e.  prosperity,  happi- 
ness. Gloss?  to  Ramsay's  Ever-green. 
k  Teut.  8(lig.  &c.,  beatus,  felix.      Gloss. 


ad  G.  D.— P. 

•  so  bane  in  G.  Doug,  is  re^y 
V.  96,  Antiquam  exquirite  mati 
seik  zour  auld  moder  make  2 
perhaps  for  bowne,  metri  gratia, 
ad  G.  Doug.— P. 

•  Compare  Russell,  1.  609,  (i 
Book  LJc. )  speaking  of  cooks : 
Some  with  Sireppis  (Sawces),  S€ 

soppes. — F. 

'  forte  platters. — P. 

»  Forte  Sirs.— P.     Sirrahs.— ] 

•  Lathe.— P.  >•  ba 
"  The  German  thrdnen,  to  r 

weep,  is  the  only  word  I  can 
for  this,  though  it  could  hardly 
thrine.  A.-S.  \>ringan  is  to  throng 
press.     TVinCf  to  hang.     Halliw 


JOHN    DE    RKEUE. 


579 


ftU 


ftSO 


•S4 


this  wine  is  new  come  out  of  ffranco ; 
be  god  !  me  list  well  to  dance, 
therfore  take  nij  hand  in  thine ; 

**  ffbr  wee  will  ffbr  our  guests  sake 
hop  and  dance,  &  Boaell  make." 

the  tmth  fibr  to  know, 
rp  he  rose,  &  drankc  the  wine  : 
*'  wee  must  haue  powder  of  ginger  therein,** 

lohn  sajd,  as  I  troc. 

lohn  bade  them  stand  vp  all  about, 
^  A  yee  shall  see  the  carles  stout 

dance  about  the  bowle. 
Hob  of  the  lathe  *  &  Hodgkin  long, 
in  flajth  jou  dance  jotir  mesurcs  wrong ! 

metliinkes  that  I  ahold  know. 


(lAOce. 


John 
up 


with  nob 


llodfrkin. 


S3S 


^^yee  dance  neither  Galljard  '  nor  hawe,' 

Trace  *  nor  true  mesurc,  as  I  trowe,*  Cp^»  M4] 

but  hopp  as  jee  were  woode.** 
when  thej  began  of  flbote  to  fiayle, 
th^  tumbled  top  oner  taylc, 

&  'Master  and  'SUuter  ihvj  yodc. 

flbrth  they  stepped  on  stones  store  ^ ; 
Hob  of  the  lathe  lay  on  the  fflore, 

his  brow  brast  out  of  blood. 
^  ah,  ha  !  *'  Quoth  John,  '*  thou  makes  good  game  ! 
had  thou  not  flailed,  wee  had  not  laught ; 

thou  gladds  ts  all,  by  the  rood.'* 


till  thef 
tanLte 


John 
Mllob, 


*  isd^  Ml  borrrom ;  a  Com-bottto,  a 
Qtumfgr.    Jan. — P. 

'  A  ^«ick  and  lirelj  cUnct*  introdur<Hl 
lailA  cilia  couotrj  aliottt  1641.  Halliwrll. 
—  F- 

•  H€y,  Qa.  lUocr  th«  lUj.  V.  \ 
nmod  cvnntry  lUocr.     lUlhwell.— F. 

|4aiB'd  in  y*  GkiM.,  *  tUpiiiiiir,  walkinK 
•UUj.'  tnm  thf  Fr.  imct,  a  atrp ;  but  it 


ift  join'd  witb  dancing  in  j*   fullowiMK 
Pa««Mf(t* : 

Thf  )kir]>is  dr  i^hurniji  plajif  attanii, 
I'l^tirt  Tnivaiii*.  St  «irD«*  Italtaui* 
.\n<l  i;4U  d*i  <lou)'il  br»ti|pUis  &  frimbr|ti« 
lhin*i«  &    ruuodis  /ra#fMy  ttkonj  gatia. 

»  /•  rfr,  M  I  *aT.  -  r. 
*  §t'  rt,  Btomr,   $tmrr^  itt(gfn;  craaatM. 
Lje.— 1'. 


580 


JOHN   DE   REEUE. 


•nd  polls 
him  up. 


TImt  begin 
topUy  at 
kicks. 


lohn  hent*  vp  hobb  •  bj  the  hand,^ 
sajes,  "  methinkes  wee  dance  our  measures  wroi 
644         by  him  that  sitteth  in  throne." 
then  thej  began  to  kicke  &  wince,^ 
lohn  hitt  the  king  oner  the  shinnes 
with  a  pajre  of  new  clowted  shoone. 


sn'lthe 
Kinghss* 
night. 


648     sith  'King  Edward  was  mad  a  knight, 
had  he  neuer  soe  meny  a  night 

as  he  had  with  lohn  de  Beeue.* 
to  bed  th6  busked  them  anon, 
552    their  lineiyes  ^  were  semed  them  yp  soone 
with  a  merry  cheere ; 


Next 

morning 


theyhesr 
hrenkfMt, 


promise 
John  a 
reward, 


&  thns  ^  they  sleeped  tiU  morning  att  prine  * 
in  ffiill  good  sheetes  of  Line. 
656        a  masse  '  he  garred  them  to  hane, 
&  after  they  dight  them  to  dine 
With  boyled  capons  good  &  ffine. 
the  Duke  sayd,^^  *'  soe  god  me  sane, 
660    if  euer  wee  come  to  our  abone,** 
we  shall  thee  quitt  our  Barrison  ^*  ; 
thou  shalt  not  need  itt  ^'  to  craue." 


*  i.e.  held.    Lye. — P. 

*  The  first  b  is  made  over  a  z>  in  the 
MS.— F. 

■  hond  OP  wrang. — P. 

*  Winche,  to  )dck,    Halliwell.— F. 

*  the  Reeve,  or  John  Reeve  there. — P. 

*  Allowances  of  meat  and  drink  &c. 
*  Lyuerav  he  hase  of  mete  and  drynko.' 
Boke  ofCurtasye^  1.  37 1|  Babee^  Book^ 
p.  310.  Bouge  of  CJourt  it  is  called  in 
Household  Ordinances^  t  Edw.  IV. — F. 


'  there.— P. 
•  prime 


SIC 


legerit.     Lye. 
morn?  prime,  or  mom  at  prime.- 
•  perhaps  Mess, — P.     Mass  w 
by  all  in  the  morning. — F. 

«•  The  Erie  said.^P. 

>»  i^or^a^  Wone.— P.    Abo/ei 
dwelling  (Halliwell);  abone,  abo 

'*  Warrison  [gift,  reward]  see 
St.  40.— P. 

"  it  delend.~P. 


JOaa   DB  UECK. 


581 


[The  Third  Part] 

[How  Uie  King  iBTTt««  Johs  to  eovrt,  and  revanis  him.] 

the  king  tooke  lemae  att  man  A  majde  ' ; 
ft64     lohn  sett  him  in  the  rode  waj ; 
to  Windsor  cmn  hee  '  rjde. 
^Thcn  all  the  court  was  ffnll  faine 
thai  the  king  was  comen  againc, 
MS  A  thanked  ehr[i]8t  thai  tjde. 


S;  parted 


67S 


the  ler&wcons  were  taken  againo 

in  the  ffbrreast  of  Windsor  without  laine,' 

the  Lords  did  soe  provyde, 
they  thanked  god  &  Sf  lollje. 
to  tell  the  Queene  of  their  harbor  ^ 

the  lords  had  finll  great  prydc. 


Midtoka 


Kloff 
Wlndwr. 


Tbcytelltb* 
QiMro  abuai 
Juhn  <i« 


The  Queene  sayd,  "  Sir,  by  your  Icaue, 
ft7C     I  pray  you  send  flbr  that  Noble  Rceue, 
that  I  may  see  him  wi'th  sight.** 
the  Messenger  was  made  to  wend, 
A  bidd  lohn  Reeue  goe  to  the  King 
MO        hastilyc  with  all  his  might. 


tht  KliwlA 
MBdfurhlm. 


MUJoha  to 


ftS4 


lohn  waxed  vnfaine  *  in  bono  &  blood, 
saith,  "  dame,  to  me  this  is  noe  good, 
my  truth  to  you  I  plight.** 
you  must  come  in  your  best  army.** 
what  too,**  Bayd  lohn,  "Sir,  1  tliw  pray  ?  ** 
'*  thou  must  be  roa<le  a  Knight.** 


«« 


«« 


lleUpot 
oot  at  Inc. 


*  gmm  br  ^.— p.  Cmn  mmiis  di«l.— F. 

•  Wi,  UuM.— F.   Vid.8UDi.  46.-1*. 


•  /t»rte    hmrl^ory^,    or    hAH*nre.     P. 
lo(l|nDg-~F. 

•  dt»plcMcd,  UtoraUjr  'MgUd.'— P. 


582 


JOHH   DB   BEEDX. 


thinks  bis 
UteffUBsU 

have  got  bim 
into  a 

scnpe; 

1 

t 

"botnemr 
mind. 

i 

• 

t 

I 

1 

wife,  fetch 
my  annoor, 

1 

I 
1 

filtchfork, 
sad  sword.** 

"  a  knight,"  sajd  lohn,  "  by  Many  mjld, 
688     I  know  right  well  I  am  beguiled 
With  the  gaests  I  harbord  late. 

to  debate  they  will  me  bring; 

yett  cast  ^  I  mee  fibr  nothinge 
692         noe  sorrow  fibr  to  take ; 

"  Allice,  ffeitch  mee  downe  my  side  Acton, 
my  roand  pallett  *  to  my  crowne, 

is  made  of  Millayne  '  plate, 
696    a  pitch-fforke  and  a  sword.^  " 
shee  sayd  shee  was  afirayd  ' 

this  deede  wold  make  debate. 


« 


The 

sosbbsrd 
is  torn. 


John  callM 
for  leather 
and  a  nail  to 
mend  it. 


and  tries  to 
pull  tiie 
blade  out. 


Allice  ffeitched  downe  his  Acton  syde ; 

600    hee  tooke  itt  ffor  no  litle  pryde, 
yett  must  hee  itt  weare. 
the  Scaberd  was  rent  withouten  doubt, 
a  large  handfall  the  bleade  ^  hanged  out 

604         lohn  the  Reeue  sayd  there, 

"  gett  lether  &  a  nayle,"  lohn  can  say, 
"  lett  me  sow  itt  ^  a  chape  to-day, 
Lest  men  scome  my  geere. 
608     Now,"  sayd  lohn,  "  will  I  see 
[w]hether  ®  itt  will  out  lightlye 
or^  I  meane  itt  to  weare." 

lohn  pulled  ffast  att  the  blade  : 
612     (I  wold  hee  had  kist  my  arse  that  itt  made !) 
he  cold  not  gett  itt  out. 


[pagcSft 


*  to  cast,  to  calculate,  to  reckon,  com- 
pute. Item,  to  contrive,  to  turn  the 
thoughts.     Johnson. — P. 

'  Pallat,  in  G.  Doug^  is  used  for 
caput.  Scot.  bor.  pallet  or  pallat  is  the 
crown  of  the  Head  or  Skull.  Gloss,  ad 
G.  Doug!  Hence  it  shoufd  signify  here 
an  Helmet  or  Skull-cap. — P. 

■  See  note  »,  vol.  i.  p.  68. — F. 


•  forte  sweard. — P. 
»  affear'd.— P. 

•  blade.— P. 

'  Fort^  BOW  in.  in,  qj. — ^P. 
the  hook  of  a  scabbard  ;  the  voi 
at  the  top.     HalliweU.— F. 

■  whether. — P. 

•  or,  i.e.  before. — P. 


JOHN   D£   REEUE. 


583 


Allice  held,  &  lolm  dranghe,^ 
either  att  other  fifast  longhe,' 
616         I  doe  jee  out  of  doubt. 

lohn  pulled  att  the  scaberd  ^c  hard, 
againe  a  post  he  ran  backward 

<fc  gaue  his  head  a  rowte.'* 
620     his  wiffe  did  laughe  when  he  did  flail, 
&  soe  did  his  *  meanje  all 

that  were  there  neere  about. 

lohn  sent  after  his  neighbors  both,* 
624     Hodgkine  long  &  hobb  of  the  lath.' 
they  were  beene^  att  his  biddinge. 
3  pottles  of  wine  ®  in  a  dishe 
they  supped  itt  *  all  off,  as  I  wis, 
628         all  there  att  their  partinge. 

lohn  sayd,  "  &  I  had  my  buckler,'® 
theres  nothing  //tat  shold  me  dare, 

I  tell  you  all  in  ffere.'^ 
632     ffeitch  me  downe,"  qwoth  he,  "  my  gloues  ; 
they  came  but  *^  on  my  **  hands  but  once 

this  22  **  yeere. 

"  ffeitch  mee  my  CapuU,"  sayd  hee  there. 
636     his  saddle  was  of  a  new  manner,'* 
his  stirropps  were  of  a  tree.'* 

"  dame,"  he  sayd,  "  ffeitch  me  wine  ; 

I  will  drinke  to  thee  *^  once  againe, 
640         I  troe  I  shall  neuer  thee  see. 


}Ti8  wife 
holds,  he 
pulls, 


and  he  falls 
back  against 
a  post. 


His  wife  and 
men  laugh  at 
him. 


Ho  sends  for 
Hodgkin 
and  Hob, 


to  drink  and 
take  leave  of 
him. 


Then  he  calls 
for  his 


gloves, 


his  hone, 


and  moro 
wine. 


Irowghe,  ChaucJ,  i.e.  drew. — P. 

lough,     or    lowghe,  i.e.     laughed. 

ic'.  —P. 

Great     or    violent    stir.      Devon. 
'. F. 

hits  in  the  MS.— F. 

baith.— P. 

Lathe.— P. 

Qn.  bowne,  bane,  bayne,  Vid.  P*.  2. 

!9  rt.i.  28  of  MS.,  1.  604  above].— P. 

MS.  wime. — F. 


•  itt,  dolend,  censeo. — P. 
"  bucklere. — P. 

"  in    fere,    together,    intire,    wholly. 
Gloss,  ad  G.D.— P. 
>'  delend.    Qu— P. 
'•  cnmo  upon  my. — P. 
' '  two  &  twentyc. — P. 


u 


mannerc- 


P. 


>•  of  tree.— P.    wood.— F. 
"  An  upright  stroke,  which  may  be  for 
1,  stands  Detwcen  tkes  and  once. — F. 


584 


JOHN    DE    BEEUB. 


H«, 

Hodftldii, 
and  Hob 


drink  fire 
gftUona; 


644 


"  Hodgkin  long,  &  hob  of  the  lathe, 
tany  &,  drinke  with  me  bothe,' 

ffor  my  cares  are  JBTast  commaunde.'  " 
they  dranke  5  gallons  Terament : 
"  fiarwell  ffellowes  all  present, 

ffor  I  am  readje  to  gange  !  " 


and 

Hodgkin 
hflftvoahim 
on  to  his 
mare. 


When  be 
g«U  to 
Windsor 
CMtie.tbe 
porter  w(m*t 
Mi  him  in, 


648 


652 


656 


G60 


lohn  was  soe  combred  in  his  geere 
hee  cold  not  gett  vpon  his  mare 
till  hodgkinn  heaue  vp  *  behind. 

"  Now  ffarwell,  Sir,  by  the  roode  !  " 
to  neither  ILnighi  nor  Barron  good 

his  hatt  he  wold  not  vayle 
till  ^  he  came  to  the  Kings  gate : 
the  Porter  wold  not  lett  him  in  theratt, 

nor  come  within  the  walle, 

till  a  'Knight  came  walking  out. 

they  sayd,  "  yonder  standeth  a  carle  stoat 

in  a  rusticall  array e." 
on  him  they  all  wondred  wright,* 
<fe  said  he  was  an  vnseemelye  wight, 

&>  thus  to  him  they  ^  gan  say  : 


and  the 
•ervants 
chaff  him. 


"  hayle,  ffellow  !  where  wast  thou  borne? 
thee  beseemeth  ffull  well  to  weare  a  home ! 
664         where  had  thou  thai  ffaire  geere  ? 
I  troe  a  man  might  seeke  ffull  long, 
one  like  to  thee  ar  thai  hee  ffound,^ 
tho  he  sought  all  this  yeere." 


*  bathe  or  baith. — P. 

*  i.e.  are  coming  fast, 
ac  coining. — P. 

■  hove  up. — P. 

*  whoD.     Qu. — P. 


comandf  idem 


»  right.— P. 
•  they  de/md, — P. 
'  fonde.— P.     ?  ffong,  got  hold 
Dyee. 


JOHN    DE   REECE. 


585 


648     lohn  bade  them  kiRse  the  dcTilb  arte ' : 
"  flbr  jou  my  goare  is  mach  the  wonue  * ! 

jon  will  itt  not  amend, 
bj  my  ffaith,  that  can  I  lead ! 
67S     vpon  '  the  head  I  shall  yoa  shread 
bat  if  yoa  hence  wende  ! 


ioha  mf 


ten 
thrtr 
if  they 


*t 


'*  the  dcyill  him  spcede  vpon  his  crowne 
thai  caascth  ^  mo  to  come  to  this  towne, 
676         whether  he  wearc  lacke  or  fill ! 
what  shold  such  men  as  I  doe  heero 
att  the  kings  Manner  *  ? 

I  might  haue  beene  att  home  still." 


TtefWrti 
UketlM 
frtlow  who 
hroaglit  him 
! 


680    as  lohn  stoode  fHy ting  ^  ffast, 

he  saw  one  of  his  gaests  come  at  the  last ; 

to  him  he  spake  ffall  bold, 
to  him  he  ffast  ffuU  rode/ 
684     he  vayled  neither  hatt  nor  hood  ; 

sayth,  "  thoa  hast  me  betold  !  (i 

"  full  well  I  wott  by  this  hght 
thai  thou  hast  dimlainde  mec  right ; 
688         ffor  wrat[h]  1  waxo  nei»r©  wood  I  " 
The  Erie  sayd,  **  by  Marry  bright, 
lohn,  thoa  nia<lo  vs  a  nu*rry  night ; 
thou  shalt  haue  nothing  but  good.** 


TWn  Joha 

■MhU 


vflV  SWvf 


him  with 
hAvtnf 
toUof  him. 


TWIwI 

m)nih*«««i*l 

hvhoft. 


69t     the  Erie  tooke  Icaae  att  lohn  Rene, 

sayd,  **  thou  shalt  come  in  withoot  greefe ; 
I  pray  thee  Uury  a  while/* 


Erw.  ChAor.  -  P. 
Wn#,  (liaQc.  -  1*. 
MH.  r|mfi  «*r  rjiom.— F. 

FifTti  MOIird.— I*. 

IfAaiirr*. — P.     Lhrrlliog,   mansion. 


*  To  fljt^.  i.  r.  to  chill*'.  !•  rtill  is  mm 
in  S^^HUnd.     (tUm»?  to  Rammir's  Krrr*^ 
grr^n.    ^y/.  to  trtikl.  rhul<>.    \  •>**  «A/«i, 
cootrntierr,  ni.jm.     C)lo«».  mi  O.  iXmg*. 
—P. 

'  ftOl  fMU  rua«.— P. 


rOL.  II. 


<IQ 


586 


JOHK   DB    REBDE. 


Ci*" 


taUtb»Kiat 
that  John  U 
•iUwgaU. 


John 
tobebroqtUt 
iBtotabte. 

Ttelwl 
John's 


hkkailb. 


the  Erie  into  the  hall  went, 
696     &  told  the  Kin^  rerament 

that '  lohn  Beene  was  att  the  gate ; 

"  to  no  man  list  hee  lout. 

a  msty  sword  gird  '  him  about, 
700         A  a  long  iSawchjon,  I  wott.*  " 

the  Kin^  said,  ''  goe  wee  to  meate, 
it  bringe  him  when  *  wee  are  sett ; 

onr  dame  shall  hane  a  plaj-" 
704     *'  he  hath  10  arrowes  in  a  thonge, 
some  are  short  &  some  are  long, 

the  sooth  as  I  shold  say ; 

**a  msty  sallett  *  vpon  his  crowne, 
708     his  hood  were  made  home  browne  ^ ; 
there  may  nothing  him  dare ; 
a  thytill  hee  hath  ffast  in  his  hand 
that  hangeth  in  a  peake  band,^ 
7 IS         &  sharplye  itt  will  share. 


glOTBB, 


and  temper. 


John  tells 
the  porter  to 
lit  him  in. 


"  he  hath  a  pouch  hanging  ffuU  wyde, 
a  rusty  Buckeler  on  the  other  syde, 

bis  mittons  •  are  of  blacke  clothe. 
716     who-soe  to  him  sayth  ought  but  good, 
•  [I  swear  it  to  you  by  the  rood,] 

ffuU  soone  hee  wilbe  wrothe." 

then  lohn  sayd,  **  Porter,  lett  mee  in ! 
720     some  of  my  goods  thou  shalt  win ; 
I  loue  not  ffor  to  pray." 


«  That  tWfwrf.— P. 
«  gipdeth.— P. 

■  weet.  Item,  wate,  wat,  i.e.  know, 
knew,  wot.     Oloea.  ad  G.  D. — P. 

*  him  in,  when. — P. 

*  Aliter  salad^  a QtMicSalade,  a  Head- 
piece. CeladOj  or  Zdada^  Spanish.  Lye. 
rid.  St  6,  P»  ^  [L  694  above].— P. 


•  of  homoepan  browi* :  or  ra 
of  homemade  brow[n].  See  V\ 
[1.  284  aboTeJ.—P. 

^  See  the  Picture  of  Chancer. 

•  Cp.  Twey  mitteynes  a«  met4 
Piowman's  Crtdt. — F. 

•  A  line  wanting. — P. 


J0H9    DB   BKBDS. 


587 


tho  Porter  sajd,  *'  stand  al)acke  ! 
ii  tkoa  come  neere  I  shall  theo  rappo, 
7«4         thou  carle,  by  mj  ffaj  !  " 


MftWU 

arapw 


7S8 


John  iooko  his  fibrke '  in  his  hand, 
he  bare  his  fibrke  on  an  End, 

he  thooght  to  make  a  firaj  ; 
his  Capnll  was  wight,'  k  come  flcdd ; 
Tpon  tho  Porter  hee  him  spcdd, 

and  him  had  welnye  slaine.' 


On  which 


withhlA 
pitchfork. 


nmrtv 
kUUhlm, 


he  hitt  the  Porter  \*pon  the  crowne, 
7S2     with  thai  stroke  hoe  fiell  downe, 
fibrsooth  as  I  joa  tell ; 
A  then  hee  rode  into  the  hall, 
ft  all  tho  doggs  both  great  &  small  ^ 
736         on  lohn  fiast  can  th6  jell.* 


and  thMi 

lidMintotlM 

KlarthAU, 


740 


lohn  lajd  about  as  hee  were  wood, 
ft  4  hee  killed  as  hee  stood  ; 

the  rest  will  now  be  ware, 
then  came  fibrth  a  Hqnier  hend, 
ft  sayd,  '*  lohn,  I  am  thy  fireind, 

I  pray  you  light  downe  lu»ere.*' 


killUiffffbar 
of  bl«fk)«» 
on  thr  wttjr. 


hUki 


another  sayd,  **  giuo  nie  thy  fforkc,*' 
744     ft  lohn  sayd,  **  nay,  by  Sf  William  of  Yorke,* 
ffirst  I  will  cracke  thy  crowne  I  *' 


mmUmt,  to 
flT^aphl* 
forh; 


*  fcrk*.  Perfaa|«  ^ockt,  which  it  tucd 
€bv«ia  I>oiig/4u  for  n  daiq^r,  rapitT, 
^  7,  M9,  **  rrrnqo**  salirilo "  b^ing 
liif'd  •*  vith  icokliit  mIk^Hxo*-.**     »h 


rowf   longior.      GIum.   m1 

Stork,  cutitlri.  TniDcun.  Juo.    It 

alao  the   handle   of  Anything. 

A    fttaif    or   long    Pole.     I*. 

tool  i»  of  cvmnw  hi*  tw(»gniin«xl 

ihmt  b«  dr«rribe»  in  line  319, 

fbr  IB  iia*  696  abort.— P. 


«  Vi !.  Pt.  1.  St.  36.— P. 

*  <li<l  we!!-nye  alar.  -  P. 

*  Ii^ig«  had  pnaaraiioo  of  the  whole  of 
the  huuiir«  in  rUrljr  flogliah  davn  ^W 
the  dirvt^tion*  for  turning  tbrm  out  of  th^^ 
liinr»  Uxln^m  in  KumtII.  the  Sh«ne  MS. 
iVtke  of  (*una«>e.  &c.  in  itm^s  fk^^, 
p.  18'i.  1.  V69  .  |s  283.  1.  93,  p.  69— F. 

»  gmn  to  \r\\  —  P 

*  ?  what  MioL—  F. 


MM  *i 


588 

AthlrA.kto 


B«aiaitb0 
i|iid 

tOMWtB 

ipn- 


d»TU*»tllftt 

to  yon?" 
Mja  John. 


The 
adawhoto 


JohnrfcSea 
on, 


with  hit 
pitchfork 
at  the 
change, 


and 

frightona  the 
Queen. 


JOHN    DB   SESUK. 

another  sajd,  ^*  lay  downe  tih  j  sword  * ; 
sett  yp  thj  horsse  ;  be  not  affeard ; 
748         thj  bow,  good  lohn,  laj  downe ; 

^  I  shall  hold  jotcr  stirroppe  ; 
doe  of  jour  pallett  &  your  hoode 
ere  th^  fiall,  as  I  troe. 
752    jee  see  not  who  sitteth  att  the  meate ; 
jee  are  a  wonderous  silly  ffineake, 
&  alsoe  passing  sloe  '  !  *' 

"  what  devill,"  sayd  lohn,  "  is  thai  ffor  the 
766     itt  is  my  owne,  soe  mote  I  thee  ! 
thcrfore  I  will  itt  weare." 

the  Queene  beheld  him  in  hast : 
"  my  lord,*  "  shee  sayd,  "  ffor  gods  ffast, 
760         who  is  yonder  that  doth  ryde  ? 
snch  a  fiellow  saw  I  nener  yore  '  ! 
shee  saith,  "  hee  hath  the  quaintest  geere, 
he  is  but  simple  of  pryde." 

764     right  soe  came  lohn  as  hee  were  wood ; 
he  vayled  neither  hatt  nor  hood, 

he  was  a  ffaley  ^  ffreake  ; 
he  tooke  his  fforke  as  hee  wold  lust ; 
768     vp  to  the  dease  ^  ffast  he  itt  thrust, 
the  Queene  ffor  ffeare  did  speake, 


&  sayd,  "  lords,  beware,  ffor  gods  grace ! 
ffor  hee  ®  will  ffrowte  ^  some  in  the  fface 
772         if  yee  take  not  good  heede  !  " 


*  swerde. — P. 
«  slow.— P. 

■  J*  deuill . .  is  that  to  thee. — P. 

*  my  Lords.    Qu.— P. 

*  yore,  jamdudum,  jam  olim.      Jun. 
perhaps  here. — P. 

*  perhaps  9tatelt/.—F,  ?  Fcrley,  won- 
derful.—F. 


'  Dease,  op  Deis.     See 
—P. 

•  MS.  thee.— F. 

•  Perhaps  from  Fr.  froU 
of  to  bang  or  beat  {hattrt^^ 
its  original  sense  to  rub. 
use  in  this  sense  in  Shrops 


JOHN    DB  RKEUS.  589 


th6  langhcd  without  doubt, 
Sl  8O0  did  all  thai  were  about, 
to  Bee  lolin  on  hifl  stccde. 


lAOftu 


776     then  sayd  lohn  to  our  Queeno,  John  teiit 

"  thou  mayst  be  proud,  dame,  as  I  weene,  ■hta^y  b« 

te  haue  such  a  fiawconer  * !  CkoMr. 

ffbr  he  is  a  well  fiarrand  man,  ti«r« »  am* 

780     Sl  much  good  manner  '  hee  can. 


I  tell  you  sootli  in  fibre.  tTiMa 

"  but,  lord,'*  hee  sayd,  "  my  good,  ita  tliine;     «•  ^k«»«  "• 


my  body  alsoe,  flbr  to  pine,  *>**/ 

7S4         fibr  thou  art  king  with  crowne. 
but,  lord,  thy  word  is  honora^^, 
both  stodfiast,  sure,  and  stable, 
A,  alsoe  ^  great  of  renowno ! 


htao# 


788     '*  therforc  haue  mind  *  what  thou  me  highi 
when  thou  with  me  [harbord  *]  a  night, 

a  warryson  ^  thai  I  shold  haue.*'  Sfii'S^ 

lohn  spoke  to  him  with  stnrdye  mood, 

795  hee  vayltnl  neither  hatt  nor  hood, 

but  stood  with  him  checkmate.* 

the  King  sayd,  '*  fellow  mine, 

fibr  thy  ca|)on8  hott,  Sl  good  red  wine, 

796  much  thankes  I  doe  giue  thee.** 
the  Queene  sayd,  **  by  Mary  bright, 
award  him  as  his  *  right ; 

well  aduanced  lett  him  bee !  *' 


I 


ftwoijorr©.— p.  Q\*Mf^  lo  lUoiMyf  Ey»f  gntiL — P. 
'  iDAiiocri. — P.  *  Qo.  Chrrk-Buiie .  tmmU  m  cumpmtAom^ 

•  S,mr  hn»«  wanting  htrr,  ruotAining  Norm*.     #t«i/a/M.    q  d.     rhrrk     br    JoU 
r  di^^jyrry  of  thr  Kind's  mnk.     Horn*  Tht«  («aH4f9  tamy  aUi>  W  rspUind  tt%mi 
ckr*  »«^  m  wanting  hfiv.—  P.  the  Trim  in  i*h««ii.  ch<«clim«tr  l>riaK  wImni 

*  alau  iifirnj.      I*.  thr   kini{  !•  Krm'ci   IB   hx  MjOM   \ut 


•  MiW  lu  thr  MS.  — F.  rir«x> .  fto  that  h#  c*aou(  Oir— T.  P. 

*  mr  |p«M(xUt]  A.  -.p.  *  lort^  ««  !#,  or  M  II  u.— P. 
'  wtfriAf*.    rrwttrd.      8co(iiih.      8m 


"  I  tlianlcc  yon,  my  ] 

ei)8         therof  I  am  well  [ 

thee  Kin-j  tooke  a  co 

A  sayd,  "  lohn,  heer 

With  worahippe." 

8U     then  n-as  lobn  eaill  i 

&  amongBt  them  all  i 

"  ffull  ofl  I  hane  h 

that  afler  a  coUer  coi 

816    I  ehall  be  hanged  by 

mcthinkes  itt  doth 

* "  Hith  thou  host  talc 
that  euery  man  may  i 
MO  thou  must  b^in  tl 
then  lohs  therof  was 
I  tell  yoa  truth  with- 
ho  spake  ncner  a  y 

BS4     bnt  att  the  borda  end 

ffor  hee  had  leener  be 

then  att  aU>  their 


JOHM   DI  BEEUS. 


591 


ffbr  there  was  wine,  well  I  wott ; 
\     royail  moates  of  the  best  sortes 
were  sett  before  him  there. 


m  gallon  of  wine  was  pat  in  a  dishe ; 
lohn  sopped  itt  of,  both  more  &  lesse. 

"  ffeitch,"  Qiioth  the  King,  «*  such  more."  " 
**  bj  my  Lady,'  "  Quoth  lohn,  "  this  is  good  wine ! 
lett  vs  make  merry,  fibr  now  itt  is  time  ; 

Christs  corse  on  him  that  doth  itt  spare  ' !  '* 


He  drinks 
off  A  Ralluo 
uf  wine. 


and  wanUiio 
make  merry. 


wi'th  that  came  in  the  Porter  ^  hcnd 
A  kneeled  downe  before  the  King, 

was  ail  *  beronncn  ^  wi'th  blood. 
then  the  King  in  hart  was  woe, 
■ayes,  "  Porter,  who  liath  dight  thee  soe  ? 

tell  on ;  I  wax  ncere  wood." 


Theportfer 
in 


aU 


**  Who  did 
thU  ?  "  my 
iheKiny. 


"  Now  infaith,**  sayd  John,  *'  that  same  was  I, 
for  to  teach  him  some  cortesye, 

'  fibr  thoa  liast  taoght  him  noe  good, 
for  when  thou  came  to  my  |K)rc  plact*, 
with  mee  thou  found  soe  great  a  grace, 

*  noe  man  did  bidd  thee  stand  wi'thout ; 


[PiftMB] 


••  I."  mjn 

JuhB. "  to 
tMchhim 


if 
hi 
to 


yoa 

t4iBM. 


"  fibr  if  any  man  had  against  thee  8|)oken, 
his  head  ffiill  soone  I  shold  bane  broken,'* 

lohn  sayd,  *'  wi'th-outcn  doubt, 
therforu  1  wamc  thy  jwrters  flree, 
whrn  any  nuin  [^(inieH]  out  of  my*  Countrye, 

another  ^®  [time]  lott  tlicm  not  lie  soe  stout. 


■toeoau...*, 

rdb«T« 

brolMOhi* 


ToQrporUn 
yiMtii'i  \m 
mtmntf 
MX  I  uaM." 


nai*-  or  mair.     I*. 

n  th-m  !tuit  Ajianr. — I*. 
US   r..rtrn.  — K. 
*nf  WA«  all  fic-   l\ 
UM.  berumro.  —  F. 


'  Fur  Doui*  thutt  ha»t  him  lauitht.   Qu. 
—  !•. 

*  Non^  liaiii*  tht«i*  ataad  m/btmi      V. 

*  An  J  cMme  out,   or  cosm*  trvm  my 
itc.     V. 

*•  diUmd  aoochrr.  ^  1*. 


592 


JOHN   DE   BESUE. 


"  if  both  thy  porters  goe  walling  '  wood, 
begod  I  shall  reaue  *  their  hood, 
856         or  goe  on  ffoote  boote. 

but  thon,  Lord,  hast  after  me  sent, 
&  I  am  come  att  thj  commandement 
hastilje  withoaten  doubt." 


The  King 
acknow- 
ledge* 
thathLi 
porter  wm 
in  fault. 


but  nuUcee 
John  klaa 
him 

and  be 
friends. 


860     the  King  sayd,  "  bj  St.  lame  ! 
lohn,  my  porters  were  to  blame ; 

jee  did  nothing  but  right." 
he  tooke  the  case  into  his  hand ; 
864     then  to  kisse  '  hee  made  them  gange ; 
then  laughed  both  King  and  Knight. 
I  pray  you,"  quoth  the  Kiti^,  "  good  ffellows  bee." 
yes,"  quoth  lohn,  "  soe  mote  I  thee, 
868        we  were  not  wrathe*  ore  night." 


C( 


c< 


The  Bishop 
promfMB 
to  pat 
John's  two 
eons  to 
school. 


872 


then  they  ^  Bishopp  sayd  to  him  thoe, 
"  lohn,  send  hither  thy  sonnes  2  ; 

to  the  schoole  ^  I  shall  them  ffind, 
&  soe  god  may  for  them  werke, 
that  either  of  them  haue  a  kirke 

if  ffortune  be  their  ffreind. 


and  says  the 
Kinjr  vdll 
find  hid 
danghters 
good 
husbands. 


"  also  send  hither  thye  daughters  both  ^ ; 
876     2  marryages  the  Ktn^  will  garr  them  to  haue,^ 
&  wedd  them  wtth  a  ringe. 


'  walling,  i.e.  boiling,  feirent;  S. 
wellan.    Lye. — P. 

•  reave,  i.e.  bereave  (like  as  reft  is 
for  bereft)  to  take  away  by  stealth  or 
violence.  Johnson,  (used  rather  for 
rive,  i.e.  cleave.) — P. 

•  Cp.  Chaucer's  making  the  Host  and 
Pardoner  kiss.  Cant.  Tales,  end  of  The 
Pardoneres  Tale  : 

'  And  ye,  sir  host^  that  ben  to  me  so  deere, 
I  pray  yow  that  ye  kisse  the  pardoner ; 


And  pardoner,  I  pray  you  draweth  yow 

ner, 
And  as  we  dede,  let  us  lau^h  and  playe.' 
Anon  thay  kisse,  and  riden  forth  h«r 

way^. 

V.  iii.,  p.  105,  L  502-6,  od.  Morris,~F. 

•  wrothe. — P. 
»  the.— P. 

•  ForU  At  schoole.— P. 
»  baith.— P. 

•  gar  them  have. — P. 


JOHH   DB  UEBUB. 


593 


went  >  ffbrih,  lohn,  on  thy  way, 
looke  thoa  be  kind  &  carteouE  aye, 
of  meate  &  drinke  be  nea[e]r  nithing.* 


»t 


884 


then  lohn  tooke  leaoe  of  Kitt^  ft  Qneene,' 
A  after  att  all  the  coort  by-deene, 

&  went  fforth  on  his  way. 
he  sent  his  danghtera  to  the  Kin^, 
ft  they  were  weded  with  a  ringe 

vnto  2  sqoiera  gay. 


John  Ukca 
Imveof  the 
Court. 


The  Kinir 
nuuTiet  h\M 
dftuffhten 
to  two 
■qolnt; 


too 


knIgfaU 
one  of  hU 


KiTMthtt 
uthrr  a 


904 


his  Bonnes  both  hardye  ft  wight, 
the  one  of  them  was  made  a  Knt^/it, 

ftfreshineueryfiray; 
the  other  a  parson  of  a  kirke, 
gods  semice  ffor  to  worke, 

to  god  seroe  ^  night  ft  day. 

thns  lohn  Reeue  and  his  wiffo 

wi'th  mirth  ft  lolty  *  leddcn  their  lifie ; 

to  god  they  made  Laodingo. 
Hodgikin  long  ft  hobb  *  of  the  lathe, 
they  were  made  fireemen  bothe  ^ 

through  the  grace  of  the  Ki'yt^^  hcnd.* 


then  thought  [John]  *  on  the  Bishopps  word,  John  dt 
ft  ener  after  kept  open  bord  h>wt»  ofm 

fibr  guests  thai  god  him  send ; 
till  death  ffeitcht  him  away 
to  the  blisse  thai  lasteth  aye : 

ft  thus  lohn  Reeue  made  an  end. 


UVl  fDAkf* 

IIiMlitkin 
and  Hub 


OUhedlM. 


•  Wi«d.— P. 

"  Nithinir.  mMiam,  iuiQ((bt,  It.  a  <U«- 
tard  pviltr'O  *  orn*  it  MM>nis  to  mmn 
BilOranllr.-  I'.  A.-S.  mitima,  a  virkcd 
BMii.  an  oatlAV.-^Boavurth, — Uter,  a 
feji|Q(»H   -  F. 

•  Only  half  the  ■  io  the  MS.-.F. 


•  to  ierT**  Cfod.— P. 

•  JoUitv-  P. 

•  A  fttn*kr  like  a  I  Uiil»w%  in  the  M^. 

»  Uith.     P. 

•  Prrhatw  >>eml  Kinf.— P. 

•  thtmght  IH— ^** 


594  JOHK   DE   REEUB. 

thna  endeth  the  tale  of  Beefne  soe  wight. ' 
Ood  MT«  all  god  thai  is  soe  ffull  of  might, 

who 

to  heauen  their  sonles  bring 
tSTito^        »0«     <^t  haue  heard  this  litle  story, 

thai  lined  *  sometimes  in  tho  sonth-west  coun^e 
in  long  '  Edwards  dajes  onr  King, 

fins. 

I  See  Page  210  [of  MS.]  top  of  7«  *  Forte  kt^pfmtd.—^. 

Page  (fell  some  time,  ice), — P.  '  long- [shanks]  or  without  Umg,—^ 


.  ♦ 


o95 


:^ppenMjr. 


I. 

Slgtnrourt  Ballalitf* 

(See  p.  169.  No«.  3  and  4.) 
1.  Aginconrt,  or  tho  English  Bowman's  Glory. 

A  spirited  black-letter  ballad,  of  early  date,  the  only 
existing  copy  of  which  was,  however,  "  printed  for  Henry 
Harper  in  Smithfield,"  not  long  anterior  to  the  Civil 
Wars;  it  bears  for  title  **  Aginconrt,  or  the  English  Ik)w- 
inan*s  Glory,"  purporting  to  have  been  song  '*  to  a  pleasant 
new  tone."    Collier's  Shakespearey  ed.  1858,  vol.  iii.  p.  538. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt  t 
Know  ye  not  Agincourt  ? 
Where  English  slue  and  hurt 

AU  their  French  foemen  P 
With  our  pikes  snd  bills  brown, 
I  low  the  French  were  beat  downe, 

Shot  bv  our  bowmen. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt  t 
Know  ye  not  Agincourt, 
Never  to  be  forgot 

Or  known  to  no  men  ? 
Wbere  English  doth-ysrd  snows 
Kill'd  the  French  like  tame  sparrows, 

Slaine  by  our  bowmen. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt! 
Know  ye  not  Agincourt, 
Where  we  won  field  and  fort  ? 
French  fled  like  wo-men 
lly  land,  and  eki*  by  water ; 
Nerer  was  seene  such  alaughter, 
by  our  bowmen. 


596  AGIKCOURT   BALLADS. 

Agincouit,  Agincourt  I 
Know  ye  not  Agincourt  P 
English  of  every  sort, 

High  men  and  low  men. 
Fought  that  day  wondrous  well,  as 
All  our  old  stories  tell  ns. 

Thanks  to  our  bowmen. 


Agincourt,  Agincourt ! 
Know  ye  not  Agincourt  P 
Either  tale,  or  report, 

Quickly  will  show  men 
What  can  be  done  by  courage, 
Men  without  food  or  forage, 

Still  lusty  bowmen. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt ! 
Know  ye  not  A^court  ? 
Where  such  a  fight  was  fought, 

As,  when  they  grow  men, 
Our  boys  shall  imitate ; 
Nor  need  we  long  to  waite ; 

They'll  be  good  bowmen. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt ! 
Know  ye  not  Agincourt  ? 
Where  our  fifth  Harry  taught 

Frenchmen  to  know  men  : 
And  when  the  day  was  done. 
Thousands  there  fell  to  one 

Good  English  bowman. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt  I 
Huzza  for  Agincourt ! 
When  that  day  b  forgot 

There  will  be  no  men. 
It  was  a  day  of  glory, 
And  till  our  heads  are  hoary 

Praise  we  our  bowmen. 

Agincourt,  Agincourt ! 

Know  ye  not  Agincourt? 

When  our  best  hopes  were  nought. 


'I* 


AGINCOURT   BALLADS.  597 

Tenfold  our  foemen. 
If  am*  W  (1  his  men  to  battle, 
Slue  tho  French  like  sbeep  and  cattle : 

Huzza !  our  bowmen. 

Apncourtf  A^nncourt ! 
Know  ye  not  AgincourtP 
O,  it  waA  noble  sport  I 

Tb«'n  did  wu  owe  men ; 
Men,  who  a  victory  won  us 
Xtainst  any  oddf»  amonj^^  ua  : 

Such  were  our  bowmen. 

Apncourt,  A^ncourt! 
Know  ye  not  A^court? 
Dear  wart  the  victory  bou^rht 

Hv  tiftv  vi'omen. 
Ai*k  any  Kn;rli.'»h  w«*nch, 
rhev  wiTt?  wnrtb  all  the  French : 

Kare  Enfrlirih  bowmen  ! ' 


2.   Kinir  Henry  V.  hiH  Conquest  of  France 
In  Revenj^'  for  thi*  Affront  olFeri'd  l>y  the  Fren<*h  Kinir  ; 
In  Ken<lin^  him  (iiisteiid  of  the  Tributr)  u  Ton 
of  Tenni^4  Halls. 

(Fmni  !h«»r«»|»y  inChithnnr^i  Li'»nin'.  Mftncli»-^t«T,  itlligincly  tmn^-iTil-iHl 
It  Mr.  Jiin«»>.  tht*  LihMriiiii.  I>r.  Hiiiil»aiilt  Ii.im  .i  iiipv  of  t!i-<<  Y.ill.ul 
"  l'niit«il  iiiiil  ihilil  in  .KMiTiTiarv  rinir\*h  Yanl."  Ho  *m\«4  ih.t*  ini- 
d:ti'*n.kl  Ti-p'i'Miii  of  it  ii1h»  iij-jiMrt-*!  in  thf  Ui  v.  J.  (\  Tyli  r  -  //■  <  / 
'f  M"UM*>utk,  Hvi.  vi»l.  ii.  |i.  ly7.  »nd  in  Mr.  lh\i»n'«  Anm- .'  /'  "i-, 
/i.ultiih,  amf  S'/if/*  nf  tk*-  V'ti^-iutrif  uf  /.'i;/''.f«./,  irinte^l  l-v  tin-  !*»r\'V 
S.i.  ty  in   iHlli.     }ii>ir*  ami  f/UT.m,  N-).  '2''i.  J.m.  'J-i.  iS.'il.  %•-!.  m. 

A**  iMir  Kin;:  lav  mu^ln.'  '^n  hi«  hi«|, 
ill-  )ii-th<*ii.-ht  hiin-*'lf  iip"ti  a  tiiin', 

Of  II  tiihiit«>  that  wib*  ilu"  fp>:ii  r:aii«'i<, 
\\ni\  II  >t  U>i  t>  ]iiiid  Tir  -••  \'\\j  ii  tin.i  . 

r.ii,  i.ii,  \i'. 

'  l;i  »*i'  t.n^r.MiI  It  I*  ■•  K  in-  lv'i/I;«'i  •  ■•'.■'.•  j -^-V  i'"*  iim-'» 
1  .r  ••  l-iwin- n." 'h'  j  riii't-r  Iiamu^*  !  .  i -i  •  .  -  i  '  \  •'.•  ^  -»'.•■••  ' '• 
a"  a  I-      All  Tlif  ••!!..  r  !«!.ii./..i*  rnd  witli   "  l-'»iii  n  "     J    I*.  l'..:ii«r 


598  AanfcouRT  ballads. 

He  called  for  his  lovely  page, 

His  loTelj  page  then  called  he  ; 
Sabring,  you  must  go  to  the  King  of  France, 

To  the  King  of  France,  sir,  ride  speedily. 
O  then  went  away  this  lovely  page, 

This  lovely  page  then  away  went  he ; 
Low  he  came  to  the  King  of  France, 

And  when  fell  down  on  his  bended  knee. 
My  master  greets  you,  worthy  sir, 

Ten  ton  of  gold  that  is  due  to  he. 
That  you  will  send  him  his  tribute  home, 

Or  in  French  land  you  soon  will  him  see. 
Fal,  lal,  Sec 

Your  master's  young  and  of  tender  years, 

Not  fit  to  come  into  my  degree : 
And  I  will  send  him  three  Tenms-BallB, 

That  with  them  he  may  learn  to  play. 

0  then  returned  this  lovely  page, 
This  lovely  page  then  returned  he, 

And  when  he  came  to  our  gracious  King, 
Low  he  fell  down  on  his  bended  knee. 

What  news  P  what  news  P  my  trusty  page, 
What  is  the  news  you  have  brought  to  me  ? 

1  have  brought  such  news  from  the  King  of  France, 
That  he  and  you  will  ne'er  agree. 

He  says,  you're  young  and  of  tender  years. 

Not  fit  to  come  into  his  degree ; 
And  he  will  send  you  three  Tennis'BaUs, 

That  with  them  you  may  learn  to  play. 
Kecruit  me  Cheshire  and  Lancashire 

And  Derby  Hills  that  are  so  free : 
No  marry'd  man  or  widow's  son. 

For  no  widow's  curse  shall  go  with  me. 
They  recruited  Cheshire  and  Lancashire, 

And  Derby  Hills  that  are  so  free  : 
No  marry'd  man,  nor  no  widow's  son, 

Yet  there  was  a  jovial  bold  company. 

0  then  we  march'd  into  the  French  land. 
With  drums  and  trumpets  so  merrily ; 

And  then  bespoke  the  King  of  France, 
Lo  yonder  comes  proud  King  Henry. 


AGIMCOURT  BALLADS.  599 

The  first  shot  that  the  Frenchmen  gave, 

They  kiU*d  our  Englishmen  so  free. 
We  kiird  ten  thousand  of  the  French, 

And  the  rest  of  them  they  run  away. 
And  then  we  marched  to  Paris  gates. 

With  drums  and  trumpets  so  merrily  ; 
O  then  hespoke  the  King  of  France, 

The  Lord  have  mercy  on  my  men  and  me, 
O  I  will  send  him  his  tribute  home. 

Ten  ton  of  gold  that  is  due  to  he, 
And  the  finest  fiower  that  is  in  all  France 

To  the  Itose  of  England  I  will  give  free. 


eoo 


IL 


lifnff  €Axatru 


(See  p.  200,  note  1.) 

We  give  here  reprinta  of  this  ballad  as  it  appeared  in  the  Ist 
and  4th  editions  of  the  ReliqueSj  putting  in  italics  all  the  words 
changed  in  spelling  or  position,  or  for  other  words,  in  the  two 
editions,  so  as  to  make  Percy's  acknowledged  changes  apparent 
His  unacknowledged  ones  we  must  leave  to  the  critical  power  of 
our  readers  to  ascertain. 


FiBST  EDinoy,  176^ 

Hkhrksk  to  me,  gentlemen. 

Come  and  you  shall  heare ; 
lie  tell  yon  of  two  of  the  boldest  breth- 
ren. 

That  ever  bom  y-were. 

The  tone  of  them  was  Adler  ycngt^      5 
The  tother  was  kyng  Estmere ; 

The  were  as  bolde  men  in  their  deedtM, 
As  any  were  fairr  and  neare. 

As  they  wore  drinking  ale  and  wine 
Within  kyng  Estmeres  halle:  10 

Whan  will  ye  marry  a  wyfe,  broths, 
A  wyfe  to  gladd  us  all  ? 

Then  bespake  him  kyng  Estmere, 
And  answered  him  hastilee  : 

I  knowe  not*  that  ladye  in  any  lande,    15 
That  U  able  *  to  marry  with  mee. 

K^mg  Adland  hath  a  daughter,  brother, 
Men  call  her  bright  and  sheene ; 

If  I  were  kyng  here  in  your  stead, 

That  ladye  shoide  bo  queene.    '  20 


FoxnrrH  EomoK,  1794. 

HxABKKV  to  me,  gentlemen. 

Gome  and  yon  shaU  heare ; 
lie  tell  yon  of  two  of  the  bddflst  hnth- 

ren' 
That  ever  home  y-were. 

The  tone  of  them  was  Adler  yoitmge^ 
The  tother  was  kyng  Estmere ; 

The  were  as  bolde  men  in  their  deedi^ 
As  any  were  &rr  and  neare. 

As  they  were  drinking  ale  and  wine 
Within  kyng  Estmeres  halle  • : 

mun  will  ye  marry  a  wyfe,  brother, 
A  w}'fe  to  glad  us  all  ? 

Then  bespake  him  kyng  Estmere, 
And  answered  him  hastilee  ' : 

I  know  not  that  ladye  in  any  land 
Thaft  able  •  to  marryt  with  mee. 

Kyng  Adland  hath  a  daughter,  brother, 
Men  call  her  bright  and  sheene ; 

If  I  were  kyng  here  in  your  stead. 
That  ladj'e  Bhold  be  my  queene. 


VcT.  3.  bpether.  fol.  MS. 

Ver.  10.  his  brother's  hall.  foL  Ma 


■  Ter.  14.  hartilje.  fol.  MS. 
*  He  means  fit,  suitable. 


KINO   ESTMERE. 


601 


First  Edition,  1765. 

Reade  me,  rcade  me,  deare  bro- 
ther, 

Tfaroaghoat  merrye  EngUnd, 
Where  we  might  find  a  messenger 
Beiweene  us  two  to  sonde. 


FooBTH  Editiok,  1794. 

Saies^  Reade  me,  reade  me,  deare  bro- 
ther. 

Throughout  merry  England, 
Where  we  might  find  a  messenger 

Betwixt  us  towe  to  sende. 


AnMVfYoushal  rydeyourselfe,  brother,  25 

lie  beare  you  compatUe ; 
JKany  throughe  fals  messengers  are  de- 
ceivde^ 

And  I  feare  lest  soe  shold  wee. 


Saies^  You  shal  ryde  yourselfe,  brother. 

He  beare  you  company e ; 
Many  throughe  fals  messengers  are  *  de- 
ceivedj 

And  I  foare  lest  soe  shold  wee. 


Tlnis  the  renisht  them  to  ryde 

Of  twoe  good  renisht  steedeSf  80 

AimI  when  they  came  to  kyny  Adlands 
halle. 
Of  red  golde  shone  their  weedes. 


Thus  the  renisht  them  to  ryde 
Of  twoe  good  renisht  steeds. 

And  when   the  came  to  king  Adlands 
halle. 
Of  redd  gold  shone  their  weeds. 


And  tpAan'the  came  to  kyng  Adlands 
halU 
Sefore  the  goodlye  yate, 

they  found  good  kyng  AdlAnd      85 
Hearing  himselfe  thoratt. 


And  when  the   came  to  kyng  Adlands 
haU 

Before  the  goodlye  aate. 
There  they  found  good  kyng  Adland 

Rearing  himselfe  theratt. 


Ihwe  Christ  thee  save,  good  kyng  Ad- 
land; 

Nowe  Christ  thee  save  and  see. 
Sajd,  you  be  welcome,  kyng  Estmere, 

jftignt  hartilye  unto  mee.  40 

Too  have  a  daughter,  sayd  Adler  yonge. 
Men  call  her  bright  and  sheenc. 

My  brother  wold  marrye  her  to  his  wiffe. 
Of  Englande  to  bee  queene. 

Yesterdaye  was  at  my  deare  danght^r  45 
Syr  Bremor  the  kyng  of  Spayne  ; 

And  then  slue  nicked  him  of  naye, 
1  feare  sheele  doe  youe  the  same. 


Now   Christ  thee  save,  good  kyng  Ad- 
land; 

Now  Christ  you  save  and  see. 
Sayd,  You  be  welcome,  king  Estmere, 

Right  hartilye  to  mee. 

You  have  a  daughter,  said  Adler  younge^ 

Men  call  her  bright  and  sheene, 
My  brother  wold  marrye  her  to  his  wiffe. 
Of  Englande  to  he  queene. 

Yesterday  was  att  my  deere  daughter 
Syr  Bremor  the  kyng  of  Spayne ;  * 

And  then  she  nicked  him  of  naye, 
And  I  doubt  sheele  do  you  the  same. 


The  kyng  of  Spayne  is  a  foule  paynim, 
And  'leeveth  on  Mahound ;  50 

And  pitye  it  were  that  fayre  ladyfe 
Shold  marrye  a  heathen  hound. 

But  grant  to  mo,  sayes  kyng  Estmere, 

For  my  love  I  you  praye. 
That  I  may  see  your  daughter  deare    55 

Before  I  goe  hence  awaye. 


The  k}'ng'ofiifipayne  is  a  foule  paynim, 
Ana  'leeveth  '  on  Mahound ; 

And  pitye  it  were  that  fayre  lady^ 
Shuld  marrye  a  heathen  hound. 

But  grant  to  me,  sayes  kyng  Esfmero, 

For  my  love  I  you  praye ; 
That  I  may  see  your  daughter  deere 

Before  I  goe  hence  awaye. 


•  Ver.  27.  Many  a  man  .  .  .  ia.  fol.  MS.  ■  Vcr.  46.  The  king  his  aonne  of  Spajn.  fol.  MS. 

*  Misprinted  'leeve  thoa. 


VOL.  II. 


K  R 


G02 


KING   ESTMEBE. 


F1B8T  Edition,  1766. 

Althougke  itt  is  seyen  t/eare  and  more 
St/tk  my  daughter  was  in  halle, 

Shfv  shall  come  dowfte  once  for  your  sake 
To  glad  my  guests  all,  60 

Downe  then  came  that  mayden  fayre, 

With  ladyes  lacedt  in  pall, 
And  halfe  a  hcndrtd  of  boUe  knightes, 

To  bring  her  from  bowre  to  hall ; 
And  eke  as  mauye  gentle  squieretf         65 

To  waite  upon  them  all. 

The  talents  of  golde,  were  on  her  head 
sette, 

Hunge  lawe  downe  to  her  knee  ; 
And  eyeryo  n/nffe  on  her  smalle  finger, 

Shone  of  the  chrystall  free.  70 

Sayes,  Christ  you  save,  mjdeare  maddme ; 

Sayes,  Christ  you  sare  and  see. 
Saves,  You  be  welcome,  kyng  Estmere, 

Kight  welcome  unto  mee. 

And  t/fyou  love  me,  as  you  saye,         76 

So  well  and  hartil^. 
All  that  eyer  you  are  comen  about 

Soone  sped  now  itt  may  bee. 

Then  bespake  her  father  deare : 

My  daughter,  I  saye  naye  ;  so 

Remember  well  the  kyng  of  Spayne, 
What  he  sayd  yesterdaye. 

He   wold    pull  downe   my  halles    and 
castles. 

And  reave  me  of  my  lyfe : 
And  ever  Ifearc  that  paynim  kyng,       85 

Iff!  reave  him  of  his  wyfe. 

Your  CHstles  and  your  towrt*s,  father, 

Are  stronglye  built  aboute; 
And  therefore  of  that  ftmU paynim 

Wee  ncode  not  stande  in  doubte.       90 

Plyght  me  your  troth,  nowo,  kyng  Est- 
mere, 

l^y  hoaven  and  your  righto  hand, 
That  you  will  marrye  me  to  your  wyfe, 

And  make  me  queene  of  your  land. 

Then  kyng  Estmere  ho  ptyght  his  troth  95 
By  heaven  and  his  righte  hand, 

That  he  wold  marrye  her  to  his  wyfe, 
And  make  her  queene  of  his  land. 


FouBTH  Edttxox,  1794. 

Although  itt  is  seven  t^trs  and  more 
Since  my  daughter  was  in  halle. 

She  shall  come  once  downe  for  your  sal 
To  glad  my  gnest^  alle. 

Downe  then  came  that  maydea  &yre, 
With  ladyes  laced  in  pall. 

And  halfe  a  hundred  of  bold  kni^itei. 
To  bring  her  [from]  bowre  to  hall ; 

And  as  many  gentle  aguiers. 
To  tend  upon  them  alL 

The  talents  of  golde  were  on  her  he 
sette, 

Hanged  low  downe  to  her  knee ; 
And  everye  ring  on  her  snuiU  finger. 

Shone  of  the  chrystall  free. 

Sates,  God  yon  save,  my  deere  wtaditm ; 

Saies,  God  yon  save  and  see."" 
Said,  You  be  welcome,  kyng  Estmere, 

Right  welcome  unto  mee. 

And,  if  you  love  me,  as  you  saye, 

Soe  well  and  hartil^. 
All  that  ever  you  are  comen  about 

Soone  sped  now  itt  shal  bee. 

Then  bespake  her  father  deare : 
My  daughter,  I  saye  naye ; 

Remember  well  the  kyng  of  Spayne, 
What  he  sayd  yesterdaye. 

He  wold  pull    downe    my  haUes  ai 
castles. 

And  reave  me  of  my  lyfe : 
I  cannot  blame  him  if  he  rfoe, 

Ifl  reave  him  of  his  wyfe. 

Your  castles  and  your  towres,  father. 

Are  stronglye  built  aboute  ; 
And  therefore  of  the  king  of  Spaine  • 

Wee  neede  not  stande  in  doubt. 

Plight  me  your  troth,  nowe,  kyng  Ei 
m^re, 

By  heaven  and  your  righte  hand. 
That  you  will  marrye  me  to  your  wyfe 

And  make  me  queene  of  your  land. 

Then  kyng  Estmere  he  plight  his  trotl 
By  heaven  and  his  righte  hand, 
hat  he  wolde  raarr)^e  her  to  his  wyf-^, 
And  make  her  queene  of  his  land. 


ViT.  so.  of  the  King  hi?  sonne  of  Spaine.  fol.  MS. 


KINO    Ei>TllERE. 


603 


First  Kihtion.  1765. 

And  h«  Uiokr  leave  of  that  hidyo  fnyre, 

Tu  guc  to  hiM  ownc  iHiuntre<»,  loA 

To   frtcbe    him    dukes   aud    1oi\]ch    aud 

That  marrypd  the  miglit  bt^e. 

Uley  had  not  ridden  M^ant  a  myle, 

A  mvle  fort  he  of  the  towne, 
mt  in  did  come  the  kyng  of  S{ittync,  105 

With  kemp^fl  many  a  one. 

Bttt  in  did  mme  the  kyn^  of  S|>ayne, 
With  maoye  a  tjmnme  lian'>ur. 

Tone  day  to  marr}'e  kyng  Adlandsdaujfrh- 
Xer 
Tother  dayo  to  carry c  her  home.      no 

Tim  ahce  (»ent  aAer  kyn^  KMmero 

1b  all  the  f>|*f«li<  might  U**>, 
That  be  muM  either  rrturnr  and  fighto, 

Or  gue  home  and  U^*f  hia  Imiye. 

On*  whyle  th^n  the  {4ige  he  went,       \\h 

Another  vA^V  he  ranne; 
Till  hit  had  orvtaken  kyny  Ki»tniero 

/htu.  be  never  blanne. 

jydimfffs,  tt/Jitif^s,  kyng  Em!  men*  I 
What  tydintfii*  nowe,  my  Uiye  ?        120 

O  trding***  I  can  tell  to  you. 
xhat  vtil  vou  K>re  aniiove. 

Y<Mi  bad  DOC  ritMen  K*ant  a  tnt/U, 

A  mjfU  out  of  the  touue, 
B«l  in  did  oime  the  kyn^  of  Spayne  \n 

With  kempea  many  a  one  : 

B«t  10  did  mme  th»  kync  "f  Sf^ayne 
With  manye  mt/riw.nr  !»an"«n«'. 

ToDc*    «iaye    to    m.irr}-e    king    AiUandft 
iiMiKht«>r. 
Tatber  daye  to  carry c  ht  r  home.      ijo 

71#/  ladye  (ayre  ^^he  irre«-ti«*  you  wrll, 

Aod  rrer-morr  well  hv  m«e  : 
Yov  BBttM  either  turne  atfuiiie  and  fighte, 

iJr  g»jc  home  aud  /aw  your  ladye. 

•SrfV'-.Reaile me.  reade me, t/z-ii/r brother,  iSA 
Mt  rra«lr  •♦JiaU  nr«le  •  at  th«'«». 

M'Am-A^    «r<fyr   wr   f»*$t   tmti/   turne   and 
fttffitr, 
7t»  Mirr  tkts/iiyrr  \iu\\v. 


Fot'RTM  EDmoK,  1794. 

And  be  tooke  leare  of  that  la<lye  fayre. 
To  gne  to  his  owoe  couutree. 

To  fetche   him   dukei  and  lord««  and 
knight«>fi, 
That  marr}'cid  the  might  )>ee. 

Ther  hatl  not  riilden  ficant  a  mvle, 

A  m\le  fort  he  of  the  towr.e. 
But  in  did  come  the  kyng  of  Spayne, 

With  kemp^a  many  one. 

But  in  ditl  come  the  kyng  of  Sjiayne, 

With  manye  a  W</  bap'>ne. 
Tone  day  to  nmrrye  kyng  Adlande  daugh- 
ter, 

Tother  daye  to  carrye  her  home. 

Shee  »4*nt  one  after  kvng  Katmf  re 

In  all  the  Hpc-de  might  U-e, 
That  be  mtibt  either  tmrne  againt  and 
fighte. 

Or  goe  home  and  loo^  bin  lady^. 

One  whyle  then  the  pag**  he  went. 

Another  wkdt  be  ranne ; 
Till  he  bad  oreiaken  king  Entmerv, 

/  trii,  be  neTer  blanne. 

Tyiftnpti,  tydingt,  kyng  Kntmere! 

What  tydingea  now**,  my  l»oye? 
O,  tvdingee  I  can  t4>ll  to  you. 

liiat  will  you  iore  annoy.*. 

You  had  not  ridden  ncant  a  mtU^ 

A  miU  out  «»f  the  tt»wne. 
But  in  did  come  the  kyng  of  Si«yne 

With  keu|«a  many  a  one : 

But  in  did  come  the  kyng  of  Spajrae 

With  manye  a  Au/«/  luri'>ne. 
Tone    dave   to    mame    king    Adlaada 
daughter, 

Tother  djye  to  carry  her  h«»m#. 

My  la*lye  fayre  »be  grei-te*  y«m  well, 
.And  ever- more  wrll  by  nire : 

Yt»u  mu»t  ettbt-r  turne  againe  an*l  flicbte, 
t>r  g^»e  home  and  /«*^  y«»ar  lathe. 


Sii'«.  Urad«-  me,  r«-a4le  me.  Arrrt  brother, 
My  ni%«lr  •hall  ry<le  *  a'  tSrr. 

Wkftk'r  If  iJ  ^-tf  r't..  turu<   ami  flghte. 
Or  !/■<  Ai-mr  umJ  '♦•***  .«ijf  Udre. 


A*.   '  MxUA.  It  *huQi,\  prubablj  U  -  ryw."  l-r.  »}  o.uu«l  iLmXI  u\mi  tnm  Uw». 

■  ■  :i 


1^.  i#^. 


604 


KI5a   ESTHERS. 


FiBST  Eomoy,  1 765. 

Now  hearken  to  m^,  Mve*  Adler  vonge. 
And  yuur  reade  most  hie  '  at  me,  i40 

I  (raickire  will  deriae  a  waye 
To  •«:tie  thy  ladje  free. 


Hy  mother  was  a  we«tenie  wrnnan. 
And  l4«mHl  in  gramary^' 

And  when  I  Learned  at  the  adiole. 
Something  Bhee  taught  itt  mee. 


145 


this 


There  grawetk  an   hearbe  within 
fielde. 

And  iff  it  were  bat  knowne. 
His  color,  which  is  whyte  and  redd, 

lu  will  make  blacke  and  browne :  im 

His  color,  which  is  browne  and  blacke, 
Itt  will  make  redd  and  whyte ; 

That  sworde  is  not  in  all  Knglandf>, 
Upon  his  coate  will  byte. 

And  you  shal  be  a  harper,  brother,     155 

Out  of  the  north  eomntrte ; 
And  lie  be  your  boj^,  so  faine  of  figfate. 

To  bt«re  yoar  harpe  by  your  knee. 

And  yoQ  sMaN  be  the  best  harper, 

That  ever  tooke  harpe  in  hand ;       no 

And  I  iri//  be  the  best  singer, 
That  erer  song  in  this  land. 

Itt  ehal  bo  written  in  our  forheads 

All  and  in  pramaiy^^ 
That  wo  towe  are  the  boldest  men,      165 

That  are  in  all  Christentv^ 

And  thus  thev  renisht  them  to  rvde, 
On  toiTf  p«»od  nnish  steedes ; 

And  vhan  thf'v  came  to  king  Adlands 
hall. 
Of  pedd  gold  shone  their  weedes,    i70 

And  whan  the  came  to  kvng  Adlands 
hall 

Vntill  the  fajTo  hall  yate, 
There  they  found  a  proud  porter 

Rearing  himsolfe  thcratt. 

Saves,   Christ    thee    save,   thou    proud 
porter :  175 

Saves,  Christ  thee  pave  and  see. 
Nowe  vou  be  welcome,  sayd  the  portir, 

Of  what  land  soever  ye  bee. 


ForBTH  £Dmo3c,  17W. 

Now  hearkezi  to  mc,  sayes  Adler  yoogr. 
And  your  reade  miut  rise*  at  me, 

I  quicklye  will  devise  a  waye    . 
To  sette  thy  lad je  free. 


My  mother  was  a  westeme  wonan, 

And  learned  in  gramarri,' 
And  when  I  learned  at  the  sdiole, 

Something  ahec  taught  itt  mee^ 

There   groves   an    hearbe    wxthifl  this 
field. 

And  iff  it  were  bat  knowne. 
His  color,  which  is  whjte  and  rrdd, 

It  will  make  blacke  and  browne: 

His  color,  which  is  browne  and  bla^, 
Itt  will  make  redd  and  whyte  ; 

That  sworde  is  not  in  all  Englandc^ 
Upon  his  coate  will  byte. 

And  you  shal  be  a  harper,  brother, 

Oat  of  the  north  covntryt ; 
And  lie  be  your  6oy,  soe  faine  of  figfate, 

And  beare  your  harpe  by  yoar  knee. 

And  you  shot  be  the  best  harper. 
That  ever  tooke  harpe  in  hand; 

And  I  wil  be  the  best  singer. 
That  ever  song  in  this  t€tnd€, 

Itt  shal  be  written  in  our  forhc-ads 

All  and  in  grammar i/e^ 
That  we  towe  are  the  boldest  men, 

That  are  in  all  Christenty^. 

And  thus  they  renisht  them  to  rvde. 
On  lov  good  renish  steeples  ; 

And  whn  thev  came  to  king  Adlands 
hall. 
Of  redd  gold  shone  their  weedcs. 

And  whan  the  came  to  kyng  Adlands 
hall, 

Untill  the  fayre  hall  yate. 
There  they  found  a  proud  porter 

Hearing  himselTe  tKrratt. 

Sayes,    Christ    thee   save,    thou   proud 
porter; 

Saves.  Christ  thee  save  and  see. 
Nowe  you  be  welcome,  sayd  the  porter. 

Of  what  land  soever  ye  bee. 


'  .Sic. 


'  Sic  MS. 


Sec  at  the  end  of  thie  ballad,  Note  •«•  [not  reprinted  here.— F.] 


KlKti    ESTMERE. 


605 


HV  Aff«  harjx-r?»,  niv«1  A illrry /*•<;*•, 
Omie  out  of  the  nnrtho  cttuntrtt\    itio 

HV  lirvDc  ci-»nio  hithiT  untill  this  pUce, 
Tbi»  proutl  wcdiiirigv  fur  to  see. 

fiitjd.   An* I    vour  color  wt-re  white  and 

A*  it  '\%  blackr  aod  brownc. 
Ud  Mije  kin^  Ki*tni<*r«'  and  hi««  )*rothcr  \su 
Wrre  comrn  untill  \\\\t^  townc. 

Then  thry  (•uIIihI  out  a  rynjjj  of  pold, 
L^yd  itt  on  th<*  (M>ri*-r*  arinc  : 

Aod  rrrr  w«*  will  iht  i«,  pn>ud  porter, 
Tbow  «ilt  fau'  u«»  no  harmc  190 

8af«  he  IiMik^l  oD  kynif  F^tnirro, 
Aod  »orr  h«*  hantllid  tin*  rknjr. 

Then  openwi  tn  tin  m  the  fiiyrt*  hall  jatca. 
He  Ictt  for  no  kin<i  of  thyng. 

Krng  KMnim*  ho  lujkt  ojThia  uttwlc  im 
(y»  If//  tkf  fa*frr  hall  ftxirtl  ; 

TVe  fr^'thr,  that  cnnio   frt»m  liin    brjdie 
bitte. 
Liglit  <"/!  kynf;  Hrenior^i  l^'anl. 

Stys,  Stable  tk*»H  Me^^lr,  thou  pri>ud 
haqWr. 

Grte  ptiible  him  in  the  ntallr  ;  7110 

iit  dirfh  n«it  b^-wn-me  a  pmud  lmq«««r 

To  ttal'le  him  in  a  kyngw  huUr. 

Hj  /W4/  h**  i«  iM)  lit  her.  he  Mtyr/, 
He  will  f/"  nought  ihatH  mf>4*te ; 

AwA  eyr  tk*%t  I  rijtl  hft  find  tkf  man,  jii^ 
Were  able  him  t^  U-ntc. 

TbcNI  apeak*?  ppoud  if«/nr/r/i,  **»vr/the  A»y- 

Tbcpu  harfH  r  h«-r«*  to  mre ; 
Thef«  is  a  man  witiiiu  thin  h.tlle. 

That  will  Unl«*  thj  fnJ  and  thee.     j\o 

O  Utt  that  man  i-ome  downe,  he  mtvc/, 

A  fii:ht  of  him  tnJde  I  *<^  ; 
An<!  witfN  h«e  hath  bratrn  «>  !1  my  ladd. 

Thru  he  ^hall  brate  iif  m««- 

I^twne  thtM  lamf  th«-  k«  m|xTy«'  man,  915 
Atwi  bwikrd  hirii  in  thi-  ran-; 

V'tT  al!  !h«'(x»»ld' ,  thnt  i»a»  under  hearm, 
Hr  dur^t  not  rii-'^h  him  n«ar»'. 


Fouvm  EDiTtoK,  1794. 

If Vf  Inm^  harpem,  aayd  Adler  y  mm^^ 
Come  out  of  the  northe  ctmrntryt ; 

Wee  beenc  come  hither  luitill  this  place, 
Thia  proud  weddioge  for  to 


Hayd,  And  your  color  w«-re  white  and 
redd. 

As  it  is  blacks  and  browne. 
/  %r'4d  naye  king  K^mere  and  his  brother 

Were  cumen  until!  this  towne. 

Th«*n  they  pulled  ont  a  ryng  of  gold, 
I^yd  itt  on  the  porters  amie  : 

And  ever  we  will  tnee.  proud  porter, 
Thow  wilt  saye  as  no  liarme. 

Sore  he  looked  on  kmg  Kstmfre, 
And  sore  he  hancfled  the  ryog. 

Then  openetl  to  them  the  fayr«*  hall  ymtes. 
He  lett  fur  no  kind  of  thyng. 

K>*ng  Estmere  he  stafJ^J  his  9teede 

'S^f/ttyre  ati  tkt  hall  lt>rti , 
The  /rotk,  that  came  from  his  biydle 
bitte. 

Light  IN  kyng  Brrmors  Ijt-ard. 

iSriM-^,   Stable    /Ajf    steed.   thoQ    provd 
harper, 

Soirs,  Stable  him  in  the  stalle ; 
//  doth  not  lirsreme  a  pn>u«l  harrier 

To  stable  *him*  in  a  kyngn  halle.* 

Mt  Idtdde  he  is  so  lither,  he  sum/. 

lie  will  dm  nought  that's  merfe  ; 
And  M  tkcrt  mmjf  tmmm  %m  this  haU 

Were  able  him  to  beate. 

Thou  speakst  prood  ^yrds,  mjffXh^kimg 
t*/  Simtt»e, 

Thou  harpiT  here  to  mee  : 
Thrre  i»  a  man  within  this  halle. 

Will  l*««te  thy  imdd  and  thee. 

0  Ut  that  man  come  <lfiwne.  he  ««W, 

\  »i|;ht  of  him  ¥*dd  I  see; 
And  virm  h<Y  hath  l>eaten  well  my  ladd, 

Tht*n  he  nhall  beate  of  mee. 

l>».^n«'  ih-n  famr  the  krin|ierye  man. 

Aii'l  l«»*k««l  him  in  the  ««rp . 
F«»r  all  the  p>ld.  that  w«»  u»>ier  heattO, 

H«-  dur<4  n«>t  origh  hire  nr«rr. 


Vir.  .*«».*.    To  •tatflc  hi»  tUnk.  fol.  UIk 


606 


KI5G   K8TMER£. 


First  Edition,  1766. 

And  how  nowe,  kempe,  jayrf  the  kjmg  of 
Spayne, 
And  how  what  aileth  thee  ?  2«> 

He  tajftt^  lit  in  KritUn  in  hU  forhead 

All  and  in  gramaiy^, 
That   for  all  the   gold  that  is    nnder 
heaven, 
I  dan*  not  neigh  him  nje. 

Kyng  Est  mere  then  puUed  forth  hisharpe,  m 

And  plavd  theron  so  streete : 
Vj*$tarte  the  ladye  from  the  kynge^ 

Ai  hee  sate  at  the  meate. 

Noire  stay  thy  harpe,  thou  proud  harpir, 
AW  stay  tku  harpe,  I  fay;  330 

For  an  thou  playest  as  thou  heyinnesty 
Thoult  till  my  bruie  atcaye. 

He  strucke  upon  his  harpe  ayayne. 
And  playd  bothfayrt  and  free; 

The  ladye  vas  so  pleasde  fh^tf,         235 
She  iauyht  loud  lauyhters  three. 

Notre  sell  me  thy  harpe,  §ayd  the  kyny  of 
Spayne, 
Thy  harpe  and  strynys  erhe  one. 
And  as  many  gold  nobles   thou    shalt 
have, 
As  there  be  strynys  thereon.  240 

And  vliat  wold  ye  doe  with  my  harpe, 
he  sftvd, 

Iff  I  (lid  sell  i7  y^"  ? 
To  playe  my  wiffe  and  me  a  fttt, 

When  nlK-d  together  tee  bee. 

Now  s«'ll  mc,  syr  kyny,  thy  brjde  eoe 

piy.  245 

As  sht'O  Hitt.s  laced  in  jtall, 

And  as  muny  gold  nobles  I  will  give, 

As  there  be  rinys  in  the  hall. 

And  what  wold  ye  doe  with  my  bryde 
sogtij, 

Iff  I  did  sell  her  yee  ?  2.')0 

More  seomelye  it  is  for  her  fayre  bodye 

To  lye  by  mee  than  thee. 

Hoe  played  agajTie  both  loud  and  shrille, 

And  Adler  he  di<l  syng, 
"  O  laflyo,  this  is  thy  owne  true  love ;  2.'i5 

"  Noe  harper  but  a  kyng. 


FouBTH  EDrriox,  17W. 

And  how  nowe,  kempe,  said  the  \pgd 
Snaine, 
Ana  how  what  aileth  thee? 
He  sales,  It  is  writt  in  his  foihesd 

All  and  in  gnmaiy^. 
That  for  aU   the    gold  that  is  nader 
hearen, 
I  dare  not  neigh  him  nje. 

Then  kyng  Estmere  pttUd  forth  hii  hupe. 
And.  plaid  a  pretty  thinye: 

The  ladye  upstart  from  the  borde. 
And  tDold  have  yone  from  the  h»g. 

Stay  thy  harpe.  thou  proud  haip^, 

For  Gods  loce  I  pray  thee 
For  and  thou  pfayes  as  thou  beyinmt. 

Thou  It  till »  my  bryde  from 


He  stroake  upon  his  harpe  ayaime. 

And  playd  a  pretty  thinye ; 
The  ladye  lottyh  a  loud  lauyhter. 

As  shee  sate  by  the  king. 

Saies,  sell  me   thy    haipe,   thou  preni 
harper. 
And  thy  strinyes  all. 
For  as  many  gold  nobles,  *thou  ahslt 
have* 
As  heere  bee  rinyes  in  the  hall. 

WTiat  wold  ye  doe  with  my  harpe,  *  h« 
Siiyd.' 

If  I  did  sell  iff  yee? 
"  To  playe  my  wiffe  and  me  a  nrr,* 

When  abed  together  tree  bee." 

Now  sell  me.  quoth  her,  thy  bryde  soe 

Am  shoe  sitts  by  thy  knee. 
And  as  many  gold  nobles  I  will  give. 
As  leatr^  been  vn  a  tree. 

And  what  wold  ye  doe  with  my  birde 
soe  gav, 

IffI  did' sell  her  ^Arr? 
More  seemelyc  it  is  for  her  fayre  bodye 

To  lye  by  mee  then  thee. 

Hee  playe<l  agavne  l>oth  loud  and  fehrille," 

And  Adler  he  did  syng, 
••  0  ladye,  this  is  thy  owne  true  love; 

"  Noo  harper,  but  a  kyng. 


'  i.f.  Entice.     Vi<i.  Glow. 
'  i.f.  a  tune,  or  vtrnin  of  iniij<ic.    Frr  GI08K. 

'  Vcr.  •2f>:i.  Some  lllwrtlw  have  born  taken  In  the  following  »tanza«< ;  but  wherever  this  editi<m 
diffrrs  from  the  precwllng,  it  liath  bt-cu  brought  nearer  to  the  folio  MS. 


KINO    ESTMERE. 


607 


FiB.Tr  Editi«»i»,  17CA. 

••  O  ladvo,  thi*«  in  thv  owne  true  love, 
"As  plnvnlv**  thou  nmyeft  nee  ; 

**  And  11«*  rid  th«'»*  uf  thst  foulc  {Mi^'nim, 
"  Who  parten  thjr  lore  and  lh<x."    2«o 

TIm  Udre  /<#t/4W,  the  ladre  )du.«iht«. 
And  bIuAht4*  and  l«*okt  H^yne, 

Whilt*  AdliT  he  hath  drawne  his  braude, 
And  hath  sir  Bmrnrr  nlavne. 

« 

Up  then  To^  the  kem(M-rye  men,         fu 

And  loud  tht'T  fran  to  rryc: 
Ah !  trarton*.  ye*-  have  »l»yne  our  kjng, 

And  thrrvfore  yw  nlmll  dye. 

Kjuff  Eatmerr  thn>ve  tlie  harpe  acytle. 
And  ivith  he  dmr  hin  brand ;         tin 

Aod  Katniere  he,  ami  Adlrr  yonp:e 
Kight  ktiflf**  in  at«>ur  can  stand. 

And  ay**  their  mronlifi  ikoe  sore  can  hyte^ 
Tbr^rtit^hf  help  of  f^raman'^. 

That  SiMinetht-y  hare  sUynv  the  kcmpery 
men,  jTA 

Or  forst  them  forth  to  flee. 

Kynir  RAtmrre  t«M>k«-  that  fayri*  ladyf. 

Aod  marrn-tl  her  to  hin  ir/^'V, 
And  bn>ti|{ht  h*-r  Imnt*'  to  mrrryt  Knglantl 

With  hf-r  to  bade  his  lyfr.  t^ 


ForsTH  Editiok,  1794. 

*'  0  ladye,  this  is  thy  owne  true  lore, 
**  As  nlavnlve  thou  maveat  see  ; 

"  And  lie  rid  thM*  of  that  foale  pamlm. 
**  Who  partes  thy  love  and  the«/^ 

The  lailve  lo<}ked,  the  la<lve  blasht^. 
And  blu>hte  and  lookt  a^nvne,* 

While  Adler  he  hath  drawne  liis  bnuide. 
And  hath  tke  Howdam  slavne. 

Up  then  roae  the  kemperye  men. 

And  loud  they  gan  to  rnrc  : 
Ah  !  travtors,  yee  hare  slayne  our  kyng. 

And  t)ieivfui>f  yee  shall  dye. 

Kyng  EKtmers  threwe  the  harpe  asyde. 
And  swith  he  drtw  hiii  brantl ; 

And  Kstmere  he,  and  Adler  youge 
Kight  ttifTe  in  stonr  can  stand. 

And  aye  their  swvirdca  soe  sore  cmnfytf, 
Thn>ughe  help  of  Oramark-^, 

That  soone  they  bare  slayne  the  kemprry 
men. 
Or  font  them  forth  to  flc<e. 

Kyng  Eftmere  tooke  that  farre  lady^. 
And  uiarryed  her  to  his  tn^. 

And  brought  her  h«»me  to  awiijf  England 
With  her  to  K-ade  his  i{ff. 


Thrmv  Um*  moiK  be  Perry'*  wa.—  F. 


608 


III. 
Beginning  of  6up  anti  P()tUte«  p.  201. 

• 

Percy  says  in  his  Rellqtiea,  iii.  105,  1st  ed.,  that  his  text  of 
"  The  Legend  of  Sir  Guy  "  is  "  Printed  from  an  ancient  MS. 
copy  in  the  Editor's  old  folio  volume,  collated  with  two  printed 
ones,  one  of  which  is  in  black  letter  in  the  Pepys  collection." 
As  he  tore  the  beginning  of  it  out  of  his  Folio,  I  applied  tb  the 
Librarian  of  Magdalene  to  correct  by  the  Pepys  copy  a  transcript 
of  the  first  twenty-two  stanzas  of  Percy's  text ;  but  as  I  could 
not  give  a  reference  to  the  volume  and  page  where  the  ballad  is 
and  the  Librarian's  catalogue  is  not  yet  complete,  he  has  not  sent 
me  the  collation.  I  am  therefore  obliged  to  print  the  beginning 
of  the  **  inferior  copy  in  Ritson's  Ancient  Sangs  and  BalUids, 
u.  193  "(Child). 


SIR  GUY  OF  WARWICK. 


W. 


AS  ever  knight,  for  ladys  sake, 
So  to8.s'd  in  lovf,  iis  I,  Sir  Guy, 
For  Phillis  fair,  that  hidy  bright 
As  ever  man  beheld  with  eye  ? 
She  gave  me  leave  mysjclf  to  try 

The   valiant  knight  with  shield  and 
8  pear, 
Ere  that  lier  love  she  would  grant  me ; 
Which  made  me  venture  far  and  near. 

The  proud  Sir  Guy,  a  barcm  bold. 

In  detnls  of  arms  the  doughty  knight, 
That  every  day  in  England  was. 

With   sword    and   spear  in    field    to 
fight : 
An  English  man  I  was  by  birth, 

In  faith  of  Christ  a  Christian  true; 
The  wicked  laws  of  infidels 

I  sought  by  power  to  sulxiue. 

Two  hundred  twcntv  years,  and  odd 
After  our  saviour  Christ  his  birth, 

When  king  Ath^lstan  wore  the  crown, 
I  lived  here  uix)n  the  earth. 


Sometime  I  was  of  Warwick  earl. 
And,  as  I  said,  on  very  truth, 

A  ladys  love  did  me  constrain 

To  seek  strange  ventures  in  my  youth: 

To  try  my  fame  by  feats  of  arms. 

In  strange  and  sundry  heathen  lands; 
Where  I  atchieved,  for  her  sake. 

Right  dangerous  conquests  with  my 
hands. 
For  first  I  sail'd  to  Xormandy, 

And  there  I  stoutly  won  in  fight. 
The  emp^Durs  daughter  of  Almain, 

From  many  a  valiant  worthy  knight. 

Then  passed  I  the  seas  of  Grt^eoe. 

To  help  the  emperour  to  his  right. 
Against  t!ie  miphty  soldans  host 

Of  puis>jant  Persians  for  to  fight : 
Where  I  did  slay  of  Saracens 

And  heathen  pagans,  many  a  man. 
And  slew  the  soldans  cousin  dear, 

Who  had  to  name,  doughty  Colbron. 


BEGINNINQ  OF  OUT  AND  PHILLIS. 


609 


Ezkeldered,  that  famous  knight, 

To  death  likewise  I  did  pursue, 
And  Almain,  king  of  Tyre,  also, 

Most  terrible  too  in  fight  to  view  : 
I  went  into  the  soldans  host, 

Being  tliither  on  ambassage  sent, 
And  brought  away  his  head  with  me, 

I  having  slain  him  in  his  tent. 

There  was  a  dragon  in  the  land. 

Which  I  also  myself  did  slay, 
As  he  a  lion  did  pursue, 

Most  fiercely  met  me  by  the  way. 
From  thence  I  pass'd  the  seas  of  Greece, 

And  came  to  Pavy  land  aright. 
Where  I  the  duke  of  Pavy  kill'd, 

His  heinous  treason  to  requite. 

And  after  came  into  this  land, 

Towards  fair  Phillis,  lady  bright ; 
For  love  of  whom  I  travel'd  far. 

To  try  my  manhood  and  my  might 
But  when  I  had  espoused  her, 

I  stay'd  with  her  but  forty  days, 
But  there  I  left  this  lady  fairj 

And  then  I  went  beyond  the  seas. 


All  clad  in  gray,  in  pilgrim  sort. 

My  voyage  from  her  I  did  take. 
Unto  that  blessed  holy  land. 

For  Jesus  Christ  my  saviours  sake : 
Where  I  earl  Jonas  did  redeem. 

And  all  his  sons,  which  were  fifteen, 
Who  with  the  cruel  Saracen, 

In  prison  for  long  time  had  been. 

I  slew  the  giant  Amaranth, 

In  battle  fiercely  hand  to  hand: 
And  doughty  Barknard  killed  I, 

The  mighty  duke  of  that  same  land. 
Then  I  to  England  came  again. 

And  here  with  Colbron  fbll  I  fought, 
An  ugly  giant,  which  the  Danes 

Hi^  for  their  champion  hither  brought. 

I  overcame  him  in  the  field. 

And  slew  him  dead  right  valiantly ; 
Where  I  the  land  did  then  redeem 

From  Danish  tribute  utterly  ; 
And  afterwards  I  ofifered  up 

The  use  of  weapons  solemnly. 
At  Winchester,  whereas  I  fought, 

In  sight  of  many  far  and  nigh. 

In  Windsor-forest,  &c 


Ritson.    A  Select  ColUcium  of  English  Songs,  vol.  ii.  p.  296-299, 

Part  IV.,  Ancient  BaUcds, 


VOL.   II. 


8  S 


INDEX. 


PAOK 

A  Jigge 3^^ 

Agincoorte  Battell  .  .168, 695 
Amongst  the  Mirtldt  .  .  .36 
Ay  me,  Ay  me !  Pore  Sisley  and 

undone 43 

Bell  my  Wyffe  (photolithograph  in 

Tol.  i.) 320 

Bessie  off  Bednall  .  .  .279 
Bishoppe  &  Browne  .  266 

Boy  and  ManUe  .  .  .  .301 
Bnckingham  betzmyd  by  Banister  263 

Cales  Voyage        .        .  .136 

Chery  Chase  ....  1 
Childe  Maurice  ....  600 
Childe  Waters  .  .  .  .269 
Cloris,  farewell,  I  needs  must  go  .  21 
Come,  come,  come,  shall  wee  masque 

or  mum  ?        .  .         .62 


Hugh  Sppncer 

I  line  where  I  lone 

John  a  Side 
John  de  Beene 

I  King    Estmere,    Peraft 
(See  note,  p.  200)  . 
Kinge  Adler 
Kinge  &  Miller     . 


Conscience    . 

Durham  Feilde 

Earle  Bodwell 
Eglamore 
Faino  wolde  I  change 
Life       . 


my  maiden 


Guy  &  Colebrande 
Guy  &  Phillis 
Guye  &  Amarant  . 
Guye  of  Gisborne 

Herefford  &  Norfolke 
Hollowo,  me  Fancye 
How  fayre  shee  be 


.  174 
.  190 

.  260 
.  338 


46 


.  609 

608,  201 

.  136 

.  227 

.  238 
.  30 
.     50 


PA6I 

.  290 

.  326 

.  203 
.  659 


.  600 
.  29« 
.  147 


Ladyes  Fall  . 
Libius  Disconius 


.  246 
.  404 


Newarke 33 

Northumberland       betrayd       by 
Dowglas         ....  217 


Risinge  in  the  Northe 

Sir  Triamore 
Sittinge  late  . 


.  210 

.    78 
.  400 


The  .£giptian  Queene   .         .  .26 

The  Emperour  &  the  Childe  .  .  390 

The  Grene  Knight  .  .  .56 
The  Kinge  enjoyes  his  Rights  againe    24 

The  Tribe  of  Banbuiye          .  .    39 

The    Worlde  is   changed,   &  wee 

have  Choyces          .         .  .37 

When  first  I  sawe  her  Face  .  .  48 
When  LoTe  with  unconfiued  Wings  17 
White  Rose  &  Red         .         .         .312 


Younge  Andrewe  . 


.  327 


END   OF   THE   SECOND   VOLUME. 

SPOmSWOODK  ANT)  CO.,  PRINTKR.*,  XKW.f*TRKRT  8QI7ARS  ANT)  PARUAMKXT  STKOn. 


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